The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has intensified calls for transparency following the suspicious death of social media influencer Albert Ojwang in police custody at Nairobi’s Central Police Station on Sunday.
Faith Odhiambo, the LSK President, has raised pointed concerns about the handling of the case, questioning the National Police Service’s commitment to accountability after Inspector General Douglas Kanja announced the suspension of several officers linked to the incident, without mentioning their names publicly.
Speaking shortly after the IG announced the interdictions of the said officers on Monday, Odhiambo demanded to know why the names of the suspended officers—including the station’s commanding officer, duty officer, cell sentry, and others on shift—were not disclosed.
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“While we note the efforts by the Inspector General in interdicting officers believed to have been involved in the conspiracy that led to Albert’s demise to pave the way for investigations, the same is far from efficient in resolving the matter,” she stated.
She then called for the immediate release of the names of all police officers reported to be suspended in connection with the case, questioning whether those directly involved in Ojwang’s arrest in Homa Bay and his transfer to Nairobi were among them. “Without full disclosure, the Inspector General’s announcement risks being dismissed as a public relations stunt to pacify an angry public,” Odhiambo said.
Ojwang, a teacher known for his bold online commentary as a political blogger, was reportedly detained for defaming Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat by spreading false information on social media. Authorities claim he injured himself while in custody at Central Police Station, a narrative which was met with disbelief by rights groups. Amnesty International labelled the death “suspicious,” amplifying calls for an independent investigation.
That said, Faith Odhiambo has now called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to conduct an impartial investigation, urging the National Police Service to cooperate fully. She explicitly demanded Deputy Inspector General Lagat, the complainant in the defamation case, to step aside from any role in the investigation to avoid potential bias.
“To ascertain this, we equally call upon the deputy inspector general of the Kenya Police Service, Mr Eliud Lagat, to publicly and unconditionally recuse himself from taking part or influencing the investigation in any way save as may be required of him as a potential witness,” said the LSK President.
She further pressed IPOA to broaden its inquiry to include past allegations of misconduct at Central Police Station, nearby Kamukunji Police Station and all police stations, citing a pattern of impunity and cases of human rights injustices all over the country.
As at now, official figures from IPOA reveal over 100 custodial deaths in Kenya between 2020 and 2024, with minimal transparency and accountability, amplifying public outrage over Ojwang’s case.
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