Mumias East Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Salasya has cautioned Kenyans to expect little from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) investigation into Albert Ojwang’s death.
In a statement on Thursday, June 12, 2025, Salasya stated that Kenyans should not expect much from the authority in the probe. Ojwang died after he was arrested by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers on June 7, 2025.
“There is very little we expect from IPOA since IPOA is not that independent,” Salasya stated.
Further, he has pledged that if elected president in the 2027 general elections, his administration will ensure unity in the police service after the DCI Director, Mohammed Amin, named the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) as the main suspect in Ojwang’s murder.
“This time, let us not allow junior officers to carry the blame alone. This OCS Talam is innocent, and remember the other OCS whom he replaced by the name Shikuku, who was OCS of Nairobi Central Police Station during the Gen Z protest, is now carrying the cross of Gen Zs who were killed in Nairobi,” he stated.
“Police officers in my leadership as president will have a vibrant union that will also protect the junior officers in their work of duty. The union shall be independent and protected by the constitution,” he added.
A post-mortem conducted on Ojwang’s body revealed he died from blunt force trauma to the head, neck compression, and multiple bruises, findings that contradicted initial police reports suggesting suicide.
Amin’s stance
Appearing before the Senate on Tuesday, June 11, 2025, Amin told lawmakers that evidence gathered so far points to OCS Benjamin Talam as the officer most responsible for what transpired the night Ojwang died in custody.
“From the totality of things, he should be treated as a prime suspect in the matter,” Amin said, confirming that Talam failed to properly book the suspect into the station, a decision he described as critical to the investigation.
Amin confirmed that DIG Lagat filed the original complaint against Ojwang, but in his capacity as a private citizen.
“I wish to confirm that, just like any other citizen, the DIG filed his complaint with the DCI concerning serious allegations that he believed affected his integrity. His only recourse was to report to the DCI for investigation,” Amin explained.
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He insisted that the Deputy IG did not interfere with the investigation in any way.
Ojwang’ was booked at the station at 9:32 p.m., and Amin said available records show he appeared to be in a normal condition at the time. The DCI boss defended the transfer from Homa Bay to Nairobi, noting that the alleged cybercrime was believed to have been committed in Nairobi, hence the jurisdiction.
“For this particular matter, we believe the offence was committed in Nairobi. That is why the deceased was transported from Homa Bay to Nairobi,” Amin stated.
