20 Deaths In Police Custody After Albert Ojwang Murder: IPOA

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has uncovered a shocking statistic; 20 more deaths occurred in police custody in a period of 15 days.

The Authority has revealed that since the death of blogger Albert Ojwang at Nairobi’s Central Police Station, the total number of reported deaths in police custody has risen to 20, sparking renewed concern.

Speaking during a briefing on Monday, June 23, IPOA Chairperson Issack Hassan noted that the growing number of such deaths reflects a worsening crisis and highlights serious issues with police accountability.

“Ojwang was killed on June 8, and it’s June 25. Already, we have more than 20 reported deaths in police custody,” Hassan revealed, adding “So already this raises an issue of police accountability.”

Ojwang’s death sparked national outrage, prompting civil rights organizations to demand swift action from the Director of Public Prosecutions and IPOA to hold those involved accountable.

Although the case has faced delays, IPOA has made progress, with multiple individuals of interest—among them senior police officers—already recording statements with the authority.

Despite this, IPOA raised concerns over a troubling trend: police officers are failing to report deaths in custody, despite being legally required to do so, even as such incidents continue to rise.

“When the death of Ojwang was reported to IPOA… the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) has to notify IPOA. We’ve only received 25 per cent from police,” he added. “The rest have come from family, media and other people who have notified [the] press.”

“In fact, when I heard the signal from the Inspector General of Police saying Ojwang died after hitting his head against the wall, I told him he was insulting our intelligence.”

Following Ojwang's death, there have been other instances of Kenyans losing their lives in police custody. In one case, a stock theft suspect being held at Katito Police Station in Kisumu died on June 14, in what police claimed was a suicide.

In a separate incident, a matatu conductor allegedly arrested by county officers at the Machakos Bus Park reportedly died by suicide while in a police cell. Elsewhere in Kawangware, another suspect died in custody after succumbing to injuries sustained during an assault by an angry mob.

Meanwhile, IPOA Chairperson Issack Hassan responded to growing public frustration over the delay in charging those implicated in Ojwang’s case. He clarified that IPOA’s role is to carry out independent investigations and forward their findings to the appropriate authorities for further legal action.

“We don’t have the power to charge,’ he clarified. “That is the work of the DPP. We can only put them in court to have them detained as we continue with investigations. As a matter of fact it is only today that a file will go to the DPP to initiate charges against some police officers (in Ojwang’s case)”.