Albert Ojwang Was Deliberately Assaulted And Killed In Police Custody, DPP Tells Court
News Updated: 20 July 2026 13:10 EAT
Photo Courtesy
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga has told the High Court that teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang was deliberately assaulted and killed while in police custody, rejecting earlier claims that his death resulted from an accident or a medical emergency. During the opening of the murder trial before Justice Diana Kavedza, the prosecution said it would present medical, forensic and witness evidence to demonstrate that Ojwang's death was the result of a violent assault inside Nairobi's Central Police Station.
According to the prosecution, the injuries sustained by Ojwang were consistent with a sustained physical assault and could not have been self-inflicted. State prosecutors told the court that post-mortem findings revealed severe blunt force trauma to the head, compression injuries to the neck and multiple soft tissue injuries across his body. They argued that the nature and extent of the injuries ruled out the possibility that he died after accidentally hitting his head against a wall or suffering a sudden medical emergency.
The prosecution further alleged that there were deliberate attempts to interfere with evidence after Ojwang's death. The court heard that the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) connected to the CCTV system at Central Police Station had been disconnected and formatted before investigators from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) examined the facility. Prosecutors said forensic evidence and witness testimony would be used to demonstrate efforts to conceal what transpired inside the police station.
Ojwang was arrested at his home in Homa Bay County over allegations linked to a social media post before being transferred to Nairobi's Central Police Station. Police initially reported that he had injured himself while alone in his cell and later died after being rushed to hospital. However, the official post-mortem conducted by a team of pathologists contradicted that account, concluding that he died from injuries caused by assault.
Several suspects, including police officers attached to Central Police Station and civilians alleged to have been involved in the incident, have denied murder charges. The High Court is expected to hear testimony from forensic experts, investigating officers, medical professionals and other witnesses as the prosecution seeks to establish the sequence of events leading to Ojwang's death.
The case has attracted significant public attention and renewed scrutiny of deaths occurring in police custody. Human rights organisations, legal groups and civil society have called for accountability and reforms to strengthen oversight of law enforcement agencies, while IPOA continues to play a central role in investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
As the trial proceeds, the prosecution is expected to rely on medical reports, forensic findings, digital evidence and eyewitness testimony to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Albert Ojwang was deliberately assaulted and killed while under police custody. The defence is expected to challenge the prosecution's evidence before the High Court reaches its determination on the charges.
Tags: Signs Media Kenya Limited Albert Ojwang Article Editor's Pick Editors choice High Court News Article Odpp Rest In Peace Signs Signs Media Signs Tv Signsmedia Signstv Signstvkenya Signsv
Share this article
FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD