Independent Policing Oversight Authority chairperson Issack Hassan/FILE
The Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) system at Central Police
Station in Nairobi was tampered with shortly after the controversial death of
Albert Ojwang’.
A report presented by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security revealed that the system was interfered with on the morning of June 8, just hours after Ojwang’ was rushed to Mbagathi Hospital and declared dead.
According to Ipoa, Ojwang’ was initially arrested on June 7 at Lida Centre in Homa Bay County at around 2:30pm and briefly held at Mawego Police Station. He was later transferred to Nairobi and booked at Central Police Station at 9:31 pm. under OB No.136/7/6/2025.
In a chilling timeline detailed in the Ipoa report, the oversight body said it had discovered that on the morning of June 8, key components of the CCTV system at the station were deliberately altered.
“...The CCTV system located at the OCS’s office had been interfered with. The DVR power cable was disconnected. The DVR logs indicated that the operating discs had been changed and formatted on June 8, 2025 at 07:28:43hrs and 07:32:29hrs,” the report stated.
The same morning, police officers from Central Police Station rushed Ojwang’ to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His body was later transferred to City Mortuary.
Ipoa stated that it only learned of Ojwang’s death from media reports and a police signal sent by the Inspector General of Police.
It promptly launched an investigation, including seizing the tampered DVR for forensic analysis.
The tampering of CCTV footage is expected to be a critical piece of evidence as investigations continue.
Ojwang’s death has sparked public outrage and protests across the country, particularly in Nairobi, where he was a well-known teacher, father, and vocal advocate on social issues.
Allegations of police brutality and extrajudicial killings have resurfaced, with Kenyans demanding justice and transparency.
