Written by Were Kelly
Nairobi, Kenya – June 10, 2025 — An autopsy conducted on the body of Albert Ojwang’, a teacher who died while in police custody, has revealed that he succumbed to head injuries, neck compression, and extensive soft tissue trauma, casting further doubt on the police narrative that he died by suicide.
The post-mortem examination, carried out on Tuesday by a team of pathologists led by Government Pathologist Dr. Bernard Midia, firmly ruled out the possibility of self-inflicted injuries.
“Ojwang’ had head and neck injuries. There were also multiple injuries consistent with assault on the upper limbs and trunk,” Dr. Midia said. “This is unlikely to be a self-inflicted injury.”
The examination also included Mutuma Zambezi, a pathologist representing the family, and was conducted in the presence of Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) officials and investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Ojwang’, a young teacher and social media influencer, died under unclear circumstances at Nairobi Central Police Station. A prior police report claimed that he had hit his head on the wall of his cell, causing fatal injuries.
However, Dr. Midia sharply refuted that account, citing the pattern and distribution of the injuries as inconsistent with such a fall.
“If someone hits themselves on a wall, you would expect localized trauma, particularly on the forehead,” he explained.
“Instead, the scalp showed bleeding on multiple sides — the face, sides, and back of the head — indicating repeated blunt force trauma.”
The findings confirm what Ojwang’s family and human rights groups have long suspected: that he was assaulted and fatally injured while in custody.
Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo, who attended the autopsy, condemned the killing and called for swift justice.
“It is clear the innocent teacher was assaulted and killed in custody,” Odhiambo stated. “We demand immediate accountability from the authorities responsible.”
Following the results, pressure is now mounting on the government and law enforcement bodies. IPOA has pledged to conduct an impartial and thorough investigation, while Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja earlier confirmed that several officers on duty that night have been interdicted pending the probe.
As the investigation deepens, the case has reignited calls for systemic police reform and heightened oversight of custodial facilities.
