An autopsy conducted on the body of 31-year-old Albert Omondi Ojwang, who died in police custody last week, has revealed that his death was caused by strangulation and significant head injuries. These findings starkly contradict the initial police report which claimed Ojwang had fatally injured himself by hitting his head against a cell wall.
The post-mortem examination, which was conducted on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, amidst a climate of public outrage and suspicion, has intensified calls for accountability and a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to Ojwang’s death. Preliminary findings, which have been widely reported, indicate clear evidence of assault. One pathologist was quoted as stating, “Albert Ojwang did not hit himself on the wall. He was assaulted before he died.”
Ojwang was arrested in Homa Bay County on Friday, June 7, and transported to the Central Police Station in Nairobi, a distance of over 350 kilometers. His arrest, reportedly initiated following a complaint from a senior police official regarding a social media post, has raised questions among human rights organizations about the process and justification for his detention. He was found dead in his cell on Sunday, June 9.
The initial police explanation was met with immediate skepticism from Ojwang’s family and their legal representative, who observed visible signs of severe trauma on his body. The family’s lawyer had pointed to swelling on the head and bruises, which they argued were inconsistent with the police narrative.
In response to the growing public pressure and the damning preliminary autopsy results, several police officers who were on duty at the Central Police Station at the time of Ojwang’s death have been suspended. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched a full investigation into the matter, promising a transparent and impartial inquiry.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), have condemned the incident, calling it a grave violation of human rights. They have demanded that the findings of the IPOA investigation be made public and that any officers found responsible for Ojwang’s death be held fully accountable under the law.
News of the autopsy results has fueled further public anger, with protests being held outside the Nairobi City Mortuary and at the Central Police Station. Demonstrators have been chanting slogans demanding justice for Ojwang and an end to police brutality. The case has once again brought the issue of deaths in police custody to the forefront of national discourse in Kenya.
A formal and detailed report from the autopsy is expected to be released shortly. The family of Albert Ojwang, while grieving their loss, has expressed hope that the clear evidence of foul play will lead to the prosecution of those responsible.
