The National Police Service has interdicted a senior officer for culpability over the death of a social media activist Albert Omondi Ojwang.
In a follow up statement issued by the NPS Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga Sunday night the Officer Commanding Central Police Station (OCS) has been interdicted to ensure a thorough, impartial and expeditious investigation is carried out by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
Albert Omondi Ojwang. Photo: donated
Also interdicted are the duty officer and the cell sentry on duty Saturday night.
The National Police Service also recommended that all officers who were on duty at the Report Office that night as well as any other found to have been on duty or otherwise involved in the incident be found complicit and interdicted.
This is the first time the National Police Service has moved to take such drastic action against its officers within hours of an incident without waiting for IPOA recommendations.
Meanwhile, Homabay Governor Gladys Wanga has strongly condemned the NPS for what she termed police brutality.
“I want to call upon the relevant agencies to hold thorough, independent and transparent investigation into the events leading to Albert’s death. Police brutality has no place in our society.”
Wanga said that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) must expedite its inquiry and ensure that findings are made public.
On Saturday a contingent of plainclothes officers are said to have arrested Albert Omondi Ojwang from his home in Homabay, ostensibly, over disparaging remarks he made on Twitter (X) concerning the Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Langat.
On Sunday morning Albert Omondi Ojwang was found dead in police custody at the Central Police Station with initial reports indicating he banged his head on a wall. A contradictory police statement indicated that there were attempts to rush him to Mbagathi Hospital where he was “pronounced dead on arrival.” The statement does not indicate why he was not confined at the hospital once it was determined he was dead but the body had to be returned to the cell.
While the quick action by NPS is commendable, all eyes are now on Luo Nyanza leaders in the Broadbased arrangement who have chosen not to comment on the incident as well as IPOA which will determine what actually killed the young blogger.
Sources have confirmed that Albert Omondi Ojwang is an only son to his parents and that recently he too became a parent for the first time.
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