IG Kanja: Officers who released initial report to face disciplinary action

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja was on Wednesday put to task to shed light on the controversial death of Albert Ojwang while in police custody.

He was responding to questions from senators on what transpired and where the investigations are heading.

Ojwang is said to have been arrested on Saturday at his Homa Bay home before being transferred to Nairobi and taken to Central Police Station, where he died.

His death has sparked anger from leaders and Kenyans alike, calling for those in authority to speed up the investigations.

Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang asked the IG why police released the first statement claiming Ojwang died after hitting his head against a wall.

However, the autopsy showed he suffered blunt-force trauma to the head and neck compression, along with other injuries across his body.

A post-mortem report released by a government pathologist has since confirmed that Ojwang was brutally assaulted, strangled, and tortured.

Kajwang asked the IG if he was open to withdrawing the statement and apologising to the family and Kenyans a large for the misinformation.

IG Kanja responded by saying that once the Independent Policing Oversight Authority concludes its investigations, the ones responsible for releasing the initial statement will be held to account.

“Through your official communication, the first information put to the public was that the young man had hit his head against the wall and died. Later on, after the autopsy was carried out, it was found to be different. Would you withdraw the first communication and apologise to the public?” Speaker Amason Kingi asked the IG to clarify.

IG Kanja said they are waiting for the findings of the Ipoa on final investigations.

“If in the ongoing investigations by the Ipoa, we get to know the truth. The officers who released the initial report that we relied upon, then they will have to face disciplinary proceedings as provided for in the regulations for providing incorrect information," he said.

He said appropriate measures will be taken against the officers who released the initial report claiming that Ojwang had hit his head on the wall to died.

Kanja admitted that his initial claim was based solely on a report from officers at Central Police Station, but he no longer stands by it.

"Based on the report we have now received from Ipoa, it is not true that he hit his head against the wall. That was the initial report we were given from the beginning," Kanja told the Senate.