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Three civilians believed to have been used by police officers to torture and kill teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang were arrested on Sunday during a police operation in Nairobi.
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Authorities say the trio were suspects already in custody at Nairobi Central Police Station on unrelated charges when officers allegedly recruited them to assault Ojwang in his cell in a bid to extract information.
According to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the men claimed they were taken to Ojwang’s cell specifically for this task. Reports indicate that some inmates had earlier been released to create space, allowing Ojwang to be isolated. One of the detained officers is alleged to have handed the assailants a riot baton used during the beating.
Following Ojwang’s collapse inside the cell, the three were reportedly released by police. Investigators have since linked them to the crime, and IPOA confirmed they are expected to appear in court on Monday, June 16.
Meanwhile, IPOA and police have said two other officers who were on duty the night Ojwang died remain missing and are being sought for questioning.
The latest arrests bring the total number of individuals interrogated in connection to the case to over 20, including 17 police officers and six civilians.
Two officers—Officer Commanding Station Samson Talam and Constable James Mukhwana—are already in custody, accused of directly participating in or facilitating Ojwang’s killing. Talam, who is being held at Lang’ata Police Station where he once served as a deputy OCS, is under heightened security due to safety concerns.
Ojwang was arrested at his home in Homa Bay over allegations of publishing false information and transported to Nairobi, where he was detained and later died on June 7 from what authorities believe was a brutal beating while in custody.
Also arrested in the case is a technician who confessed to tampering with the CCTV system at Central Police Station. He told investigators he was paid KSh 3,000 to delete footage after Ojwang’s death. IPOA-supported detectives are working to recover the deleted data.
Constable Mukhwana was arrested on June 12 and has been remanded for seven days as investigations proceed. IPOA argued against his release, citing potential tampering with evidence and interference with witnesses.
IPOA continues to await results from forensic analysis of suspects’ mobile phones and tests by the government chemist, which are expected to shed more light on the circumstances of Ojwang’s death.
