IG Kanja apologises for false claim on Albert Ojwang’s death

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja appearing before the Senate Plenary to respond to circumstances that led to the death of blogger Albert Ojwang on June 11,2025. PHOTO/ENOS TECHE

He has since issued a public apology to the nation.

Appearing before the Senate on June 11, 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.

“I tender my apology on behalf of the National Police Service for that misinformation.”

When asked how many people were in the cell with Ojwang’, Kanja said that such details would be clarified through the ongoing investigations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa).

The IG has come under intense pressure from lawmakers and human rights groups to explain exactly what led to Ojwang’s death, especially after a postmortem revealed the 28-year-old had been brutally assaulted before dying in custody.

Kanja had initially stated that Ojwang’ was found unconscious in a cell at Central Police Station and rushed to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

A police report at the time claimed he had suffered head injuries after "hitting his head repeatedly against the wall inside the cell."

Ojwang’ had been arrested at his home in Homa Bay County on the afternoon of Saturday, June 7, 2025, and transported to Nairobi, where he died the following morning.

On Wednesday, Kanja said police are eager to uncover the truth.

“We want to know who killed Ojwang’ and why. Let us give IPOA the opportunity to carry out quick and conclusive investigations,” he said, also noting that the reported tampering of CCTV systems at the station is under Ipoa’s probe.

In her testimony before the Senate on the same day, Ipoa Deputy Chairperson Ann Wanjiku confirmed that Ojwang’ was arrested by five officers.

She also revealed that Ipoa only learned of his death through the media and launched an investigation immediately.

“One of the key findings was that the CCTV systems located at the OCS’s office had been interfered with,” Wanjiku stated, underscoring growing concerns over a possible cover-up.