The National Police Service (NPS) has confirmed the interdiction of several officers attached to Central Police Station following the death of Albert Ojwang while in custody.
In a statement on Sunday night, June 8, the NPS said the move is aimed at ensuring a transparent investigation into the incident.
"The National Police Service (NPS) wishes to inform the public that, following the tragic death of Mr. 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 Inspector General of the National Police Service has ordered the interdiction of the following officers with immediate effect," read the statement.
Among those interdicted are the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), the duty officer on duty during the night in question and 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 have also been interdicted.
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Earlier Sunday, the National Police Service (NPS) confirmed that Ojwang had been in police custody at the time of his death.
"NPS confirms that Albert Omondi Ojwang was lawfully arrested by DCI detectives for false publication and placed in custody. While in custody, the suspect sustained head injuries after hitting his head against the cell wall," the police said.
The police explained that officers on duty took immediate action to address the situation once they realized the suspect was injured.
"Police officers on duty promptly noticed the injuries and rushed him to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival," the statement added.
Speaking to the media, Ojwang's father, Meshack Ojwang, confirmed that his son was arrested in Homa Bay County and later transported to Nairobi, where he was booked at Central Police Station.
Narrating the final moments he shared with his son, Ojwang's father recounted how a normal Saturday quickly turned into a nightmare.
"For the better part of Saturday, June 7, my son and I were working on our farm; my son was working on some vegetables while I was weeding maize. After that, he left for Ringa to get trees to plant in the homestead, and upon returning, his mother had prepared some food, which we went on to have.
"His uncle and I ate from the house while he, along with his mother, wife, their child, and my brother's children ate outside the house. When we were about to have our meals, I heard a motorbike approaching the homestead; I went outside to welcome whoever was coming," he said.
It was just before having their meals when three motorbikes arrived at the homestead and took Ojwang into custody moments later.
"Three motorbikes arrived; two went around the homestead while one came through the front side of the homestead. They identified themselves as police officers and informed me that they had come because of my son.
"He was placed in handcuffs and taken away. When I asked what he was being arrested for, they (police officers) said my son had insulted their boss on the social media platform, X. When I asked which boss was insulted, an officer told me off before he instructed me to follow them to Mawingu Police Station," he added.
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