U.S. gov't calls for swift, transparent probe into Albert Ojwang’s murder

In a statement issued Wednesday, the Embassy extended its condolences to the family of Ojwang who died in the hands of police on Sunday morning.

The Embassy noted concerns around the events of Ojwang’s death, urging for accountability through a transparent investigation.

"Noting concerns around the circumstances of Ojwang’s death, the Embassy supports calls from government, parliamentarians, and Kenyan citizens for accountability through a transparent investigation.

"The Embassy urges the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to conduct its ongoing investigation swiftly and thoroughly.  We also call on the Kenyan government to ensure IPOA has the access and support needed to perform its duties," the statement noted.

Albert Ojwang’ was picked up in Homa Bay on Saturday afternoon by security officers who said they were probing him over a post he allegedly made on the social media platform X.

They later drove him to Nairobi and detained him at the Central Police Station.

However, when his family arrived at the police station on Sunday to follow up on the case, they found he was dead, and told his body had been taken to City Mortuary.

The officers at Central Police Station told Mr. Opiyo, Albert’s father, that his son died in hospital from self-inflicted injuries after hitting himself against the wall.

Police initially claimed that preliminary investigations showed that Albert, who was booked in for the offence of false publication, sustained head injuries “by hitting his head severally against the wall inside the cell.”

An autopsy on his body, however, revealed that Albert Ojwang', who died in custody at the Central Police Station, was assaulted and suffered multiple body injuries. 

Government pathologist Bernard Midia on Tuesday pronounced that “When we examined… the pattern of the injury, especially on the trauma I found on the head…. Hitting against a blunt substance like a wall would have a pattern.”