Poghisio urges full investigation into police role in Ojwang’s death
Former Majority Senate leader Samuel Poghisio has called upon the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the police officers involved in Albert Ojwang’s death.
Speaking at a local TV station on Monday, June 9, 2025, Poghisio urged the oversight authority to act before police commit crimes against detainees.
“The police officers, even higher than the Central Police Station Officer Commanding Station (OCS), must be investigated. It is time to investigate everyone who might have been responsible,” he demanded.
‘IPOA should be proactive rather than wait to issue a statement after people have died. Now is the time for IPOA to inform the police service that they are under scrutiny. They will be held responsible for whatever happens to the young people they arrest,” he added.
Furthermore, he has urged IPOA to consider how online offenders are handled by the police when they are arrested.
“This is the time IPOA comes out to defend Kenyans’ rights to speak and associate, so that they are not picked up anyhow by police,” he stated.
Ojwang’s death
Ojwang died on June 8, 2025, hours after officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested him over a social media post.
He was picked up by police officers in Kakot, Homa Bay County, on Saturday afternoon, June 7, 2025, who said they were probing him over a post he allegedly made on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
They later drove him to Nairobi and detained him at the Central Police Station.
However, when his family arrived at the police station on Sunday, June 8, 2025, to follow up on the case, they found he was dead.
“We awaited his arraignment in court on Monday, June 9, 2025, so we can follow up on the case from there. But today, his father, who came to follow up after the arrest, informed me that his son was dead. It is quite unfortunate,” a lawyer for the family told reporters outside the police station.
They said police told them Albert’s body had been taken to City Mortuary.
“One does not deserve to lose their life; there is the law, and we expected the boy to be processed normally and charged, then, if found guilty, punished according to the law,” the lawyer added.
Poghisio’s remarks come after the Inspector General of the National Police Service (NPS), Douglas Kanja, has interdicted several police officers following Ojwang’s mysterious death.
In a statement on Monday, June 9, 2025, NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga revealed that the interdictions would pave the way for independent investigations into the incidents surrounding Albert’s death.
NPS statement
“The National Police Service (NPS) wishes to inform the public that, following the tragic death of Albert Ojwang while in police custody at Central Police Station, Nairobi, and to ensure a thorough, impartial, and expeditious investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA),” the statement reads in part.
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Among those interdicted are the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) of the Central Police Station, the duty officer on Saturday, June 7, 2025, the officer in charge of supervising the cells, all officers on duty at the report office, and any other officer on duty during the incident.
Any police officer who was involved in the handling of the deceased has also been interdicted.
“The Inspector General of the National Police has ordered the interdiction of the following officers with immediate effect: the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), Central Police Station; the duty officer on duty during the night in question; the cell sentry on duty at the time; all officers who were on duty at the report office that night; and any other officer found to have been on duty or otherwise involved during the incident, “the statement reads.
“The NPS remains committed to upholding the rule of law, human rights, transparency and accountability within the service. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.”
