The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has arrested three civilians believed to have played a role in the death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang’, who died while in police custody at Nairobi’s Central Police Station.
The suspects – Gin Ammitou Abwao, Collins Karani Ireri, and Brian Mwaniki Njue – were held at the same station during the time Ojwang’ was detained. Investigators allege that police officers used the three detainees to physically assault Ojwang’, an attack that reportedly led to his death.
Although authorities released the trio shortly after the incident, IPOA rearrested them on Sunday. To prevent interference with the investigation, officials are holding each suspect at a different location – Kilimani, Muthangari, and Kileleshwa police stations.
The suspects were arraigned on Monday alongside Nairobi Central Police Station OCS Samson Taalam, who remains in custody at Lang’ata Police Station. Taalam is under investigation for allegedly tampering with crucial CCTV footage related to the case.
In court, the suspects’ lawyer claimed that his clients were initially held under a miscellaneous application for five days without formal charges before being released. He criticized their re-arrest as the case gained public attention.
Meanwhile, IPOA has recovered vital CCTV footage believed to shed light on the moments leading up to and following Ojwang’s death.
Authorities are now reviewing over 36 hours of footage to reconstruct the timeline of events.
IPOA also revealed that two police officers seen on video transporting Ojwang’ to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival, remain at large.
One of them, Deputy OCS Samuel Ng’ang’a, was reportedly on duty the night Ojwang’ died.
