IG Kanja apologises over misleading account of Albert Ojwang’s death

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja was on Wednesday compelled by Senators to retract his earlier statement and issue a formal apology over his handling of the circumstances surrounding the death of civil rights activist Albert Ojwang while in police custody.

Appearing before the Senate alongside Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, IG Kanja came under heavy scrutiny for claiming that Ojwang had died after hitting his head against a cell wall at Central Police Station, Nairobi.

Under pressure from Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana, Kanja initially resisted but eventually issued a formal apology.
"Mr Speaker, on behalf of the entire National Police Service, I'm sorry," he said.

IG’s narrative under fire

Inspector General Kanja’s initial explanation painted a humane picture of the police officers who transported Ojwang from Homa Bay to Nairobi, claiming they even bought him soda and biscuits during the long journey. However, Senators questioned this narrative, especially since Ojwang was booked in solitary confinement at the Central Police Station shortly after arrival.

Kanja could not explain why Ojwang was placed in isolation, instead stating:
"In the course of investigations, we are going to know why the suspect was locked in solitary confinement."

This prompted Senate Speaker Amason Jeffah Kingi to challenge Kanja based on Police Standing Orders tabled by CS Murkomen.
"The CS read to us the Police Standing Orders. Did the late Ojwang fit in the category of suspects to be held in secluded cells?" Kingi posed.

OCS and DIG named in Senate session

Kanja told the Senate that the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), Mr Samson Taalam, had approved Ojwang’s detention in the cell. However, Senators rebutted this claim, citing media reports where the OCS had allegedly refused to book Ojwang, noting the deteriorated condition he was in upon arrival.

Meanwhile, Kanja defended the decision to transport Ojwang nearly 400 kilometres from Homa Bay to Nairobi, saying the complaint against him originated in Nairobi. He confirmed that the complaint was officially lodged by Deputy Inspector General Eliud Kipkoech Lagat, but he was noncommittal when asked whether Lagat would face disciplinary action for potential abuse of office.

CCTV tampering and social media interference

Senators also sought answers about suspicious interference with CCTV footage at the Central Police Station. Kanja admitted the footage had been tampered with but said investigations were underway.
"We have assigned our experts to investigate and tell us who interfered with the CCTV cameras," he stated.

Nominated Senator Veronica Maina raised further concerns about the deletion of Ojwang’s X (formerly Twitter) account, which occurred a day after his death. Kanja responded by saying the issue would be handled by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

Laikipia Senator John Methu also poked holes in the timeline presented by the police, questioning how officers could drive from Homa Bay to Nairobi—a journey of over 300 kilometres—in exactly three hours, as claimed in initial reports.

Background: Albert Ojwang

Albert Ojwang was a prominent civil rights activist known for speaking out against state overreach, police brutality, and corruption through social media platforms. His arrest and subsequent death while in custody have triggered widespread public outcry, with civil society organisations demanding accountability and justice.

The death, which occurred under mysterious circumstances, has since drawn national attention, forcing both police leadership and the Interior Ministry to appear before the Senate for questioning.

What lies ahead?

While the Inspector General’s apology marks a rare admission of fault, Senators have signalled that the matter is far from resolved.

Investigations are ongoing, and human rights defenders are calling for the suspension of implicated officers and a transparent, independent probe.

AVDelta News will continue to track developments in this high-profile case.