IG Douglas Kanja Apologises to Kenyans for Claiming Albert Ojwang Killed Himself
- Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja apologised to Kenyans for the misleading police claim that Albert Ojwang died by hitting his head against a wall in custody
- He said the initial statement came from officers at Nairobi Central Police Station before a proper probe into the incident had been done
- Kanja defended the decision to take Ojwang to Mbagathi Hospital instead of KNH, saying both are public facilities and officers used their discretion
- He urged the Senate to await IPOA’s final report and said he was personally disturbed by the death, speaking as a parent
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Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has formally apologised to Kenyans over initial police claims that 31-year-old blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang died by hitting his head against a wall while in custody.
Source: Twitter
Speaking before the Senate on Wednesday, June 11, the police chief admitted that the information was misleading and regrettable.
Kanja said the statement about Ojwang's alleged self-inflicted injury came from officers at the Nairobi Central Police Station and was relayed before a thorough investigation had been conducted.
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"It is true, as Senator Mugatana has said, that going by the report that you have gotten from IPOA, that it is not true, he did not hit his head against the wall. But that is the report that we had from the word go. I tend my apology on behalf of the National Police Service because of that information," Kanja told the senators.
Why was Ojwang' rushed to Mbagathi, not KNH?
Kanja also responded to concerns about why Ojwang was taken to Mbagathi Hospital instead of Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
The police boss explained that both are government hospitals, and officers made a judgment call at the time.
"There was a question by on why he was taken to Mbagathi and not KNH which could be near. Both of them are government hospitals. Maybe for the officers who were taking him to hospital, they made a decision to take him to Mbagathi Hospital but both of them are government hospitals and we believe that they have what it takes to treat a sick person," the police boss stated.
He urged the public and Senate to await IPOA’s findings, saying they are looking forward to the resolution of the issue in the soonest time possible.
Source: TikTok
He added that, like many Kenyans, he was deeply affected by Ojwang’s death, appealing to his standing as a parent.
Inside Albert Ojwang's final hours
Ojwang was arrested in Homa Bay and transported to Nairobi, where he was booked at Central Police Station on the night of June 7.
Kanja confirmed that upon arrival at 9:17pm, Ojwang was allowed to call his wife and inform her that he had arrived safely.
But in the early hours of June 8, officers found Ojwang unconscious in his cell. He was rushed to Mbagathi Hospital at 1:39am but was declared dead on arrival.
A post-mortem examination later concluded that Ojwang died from blunt force trauma, including head injuries, internal bleeding, and signs of neck compression.
Faced with growing scrutiny, Kanja announced the interdiction of multiple officers, including the officer commanding the station, the duty officer that night, and those manning the report desk.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
