Senior police officers at Central Police Station suspended over Ojwang's death

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has suspended several senior officers at Nairobi’s Central Police Station following the controversial death of a suspect in custody.

The move comes amid mounting public outrage and demands for accountability over the death of Albert Ojwang', a teacher who died under unclear circumstances while being held at the station.

Ojwang was arrested on Saturday in Homa Bay over what authorities described as a "derogatory" social media post on platform X (formerly Twitter).

He was transferred to Nairobi by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and booked into Central Police Station pending further investigation.

Police claim Ojwang died by suicide after allegedly injuring himself while alone in a holding cell.

He was found with serious head injuries believed to be self-inflicted and was pronounced dead at a hospital on Sunday morning.

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However, human rights groups have cast doubt on the official account, dismissing the suicide claim and calling for justice, sparking public protests and increased scrutiny on police conduct.

In response, Kanja directed the interdiction of the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), the duty officer on shift that night, the cell sentry, and all officers who were on duty at the report office during the incident. Any other officer found to have been involved has also been targeted for disciplinary action.

PRESS STATEMENT : UPDATE FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF ALBERT OMONDI OJWANG pic.twitter.com/rs1ZQCHnKJ — National Police Service-Kenya (@NPSOfficial_KE) June 8, 2025

Kanja added that the suspensions are aimed at paving the way for a “thorough, impartial, and expeditious” investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).

“The National Police Service remains committed to upholding the rule of law, human rights, transparency, and accountability,” police spokesperson Michael Muchiri said in a statement.

The death of Ojwang' has been trending on various social media handles since Sunday with various bodies including the  Law Society of Kenya calling for an in-depth speedy investigation into the incident.