“In Whose Hands Are We Safe?”: Teacher Dies in Police Custody

The chalkboard remained untouched; lesson plans incomplete. In Voi, a classroom grieves its teacher, while a country grapples with the horror of what happened in a cold Nairobi cell.

Albert Omondi Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher and father, was arrested on Friday, June 6, at his home in Homa Bay County. By Sunday, June 8, he was dead in police custody, his body showing bruises, neck compression marks, and signs of blunt-force trauma. Once again, Kenyans are left asking: In whose hands are we truly safe?

“We were at home when we saw three motorbikes, and each carried two individuals,” recalls Meshack Opiyo, Albert’s father. “I welcomed them and introduced myself as the owner of the homestead. One of the men pulled me aside and said, ‘If this is your home, we are here for your son."

Albert, still holding a plate of ugali and sukuma wiki his mother had served him, was stunned by the commotion.

Meshack Opiyo, Albert’s father 

“The man who pulled me aside said he was a police officer and showed me an ID,” Opiyo continues. “He claimed they were from the DCI office in Nairobi and that my son had insulted their senior. They didn’t explain the details, only saying he had to report to the DCI. They also mentioned they had arrested someone else from Kisii, and Albert was the last one they needed.”

Albert was handcuffed at the homestead, and his phone was confiscated. The officers then took him away on the same motorbikes they had arrived with, transporting him to Mawego Police Station in Homa Bay. There, Albert’s father and uncle followed closely behind.

“At Mawego, he was briefly held as paperwork was being signed. From there, they transferred him to Nairobi in a Subaru vehicle,” says Opiyo.

Later on Saturday, June 7 evening, around 8 p.m., Opiyo spoke to his son for what would be the last time.

“He called me and asked me to come to the Central Police Station in Nairobi. He was worried about his health. He said the cell had poor air circulation and that it wasn’t good for his asthma. I tried calling the officers again, but got no response. I decided to travel to Nairobi immediately. I arrived at 4:24 a.m.,” Opiyo recounts.

By 7 a.m., he was at the station and requested to see his son.

“I was told to wait. I sat on a bench until 8 a.m. I went back to the officer on duty, and again, I was told to wait. At 9 a.m., another male officer told me they were still doing some cleaning, and advised me to get breakfast and return at 10 a.m. I returned and waited again.”

Then came a moment no parent should ever have to live through.

“Around 10 a.m., a chaplain from the station came with DCI officers, I recognized two of them. We were taken to the OCS office. I still had full hope of seeing my son. But once inside, I was informed that my son had died while in police custody, and his body had been taken to the City Mortuary.”

What Happened in That Cell?

According to the Occurrence Book (OB) at Central Police Station, Albert was booked at 2:35 a.m. on Sunday, June 8, listed as suspect number 59. The reason cited for his arrest was “posting false information on social media.” At 3:40 a.m., just an hour later, his death was recorded and signed by two officers.

Photo citizen TV

Inside the cell, investigators found troubling evidence: blood-stained shoes, a red t-shirt, a black cloth, a water bottle, and a cup. Blood was also visible on the walls and floor of the isolated cell where Albert was held despite water being poured on the floor, presumably in an attempt to clean it.

Disturbingly, Albert was held alone, far from other detainees.

The Autopsy Tells a Different Story

The police initially claimed Albert had died after hitting his head on the wall. But an autopsy conducted on Monday, June 10, by a team of five pathologists, including State Forensic Pathologist Dr. Bernard Midia, refuted this.

“We found extensive injuries, severe head trauma, neck compression, and multiple soft tissue injuries all over his body, including his limbs,” Dr. Midia stated. “These injuries are consistent with external assault. They are not self-inflicted.”

Further samples were taken for forensic analysis, and Midia urged other agencies to collaborate in unveiling the full truth. “The cause of death is clearly assault,” he concluded.

Autopsy Report/ photo 

Family lawyer Julius Juma, speaking outside City Mortuary, added, “His head was swollen, especially the frontal region. There were visible injuries to his nose and ear. The claim that he hit himself doesn’t hold.”

Outrage and Calls for Justice

Faith Odhiambo, President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), called Albert’s death a serious violation of human rights. “Albert wasn’t a criminal. He was a citizen speaking his mind. If we want our constitutional rights upheld, we must keep telling these stories.”

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) also weighed in, calling the incident a “state-sanctioned operation.”

“This was not the act of rogue officers,” said Secretary-General Akelo Misori. “The coordination between officers in Homa Bay, Taita Taveta, and Nairobi shows this was planned at high levels.”

Public anger exploded across the country. Protesters marched in Nairobi, bearing placards of Albert’s photo and chanting “Justice for Albert.” Hashtags trended. Civil society organizations condemned the act, demanding immediate action.

Fred Ogolla, a rights activist, questioned inconsistencies in the police account. “Where is the OB number that recorded who transported him to Nairobi? What condition was he in?”

HAKI Africa’s Executive Director, Hussein Khalid, pointed out that Albert’s death fits into a disturbing pattern of extrajudicial killings by police.

Political leaders echoed public frustration. ODM leader Raila Odinga stated, “No one knows who ordered Albert’s arrest or why he had to be transported from Homa Bay to Nairobi. Yet someone must answer for this.”

Odinga lamented the growing list of young Kenyans “brutally and senselessly killed in the hands of police.”

The Road to Accountability

Following public outcry and the autopsy findings, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) launched an official investigation. The five officers on duty at the Central Police Station that night have been interdicted and are being questioned.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Igonga has ordered IPOA to fast-track its probe and submit a report within seven days. Invoking Article 157(4) of the Constitution, he emphasized the need for urgency given the public concern.

The Senate grilled Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja on Tuesday, June 11. During the session, Kanja retracted his earlier claim that Albert had hit his head on the wall and offered a public apology.

“Based on IPOA’s preliminary findings, it is not true. He did not hit his head against the wall,” Kanja admitted.

President William Ruto also addressed the nation.

“A blogger was arrested and died in police custody. The tragic occurrence is unacceptable. As we mourn, let’s allow investigations to run their course, but we must remain vigilant,” the President said.

A Life Silenced, A Country on Edge

Albert’s death is not just about one man. It has become a symbol of deeper issues: abuse of power, lack of transparency in law enforcement, and the shrinking space for dissent.

His classroom in Voi remains empty, his students confused. His family is left in anguish, his community in outrage, and a nation once again grappling with questions it has asked far too often.

How many more must die before justice is not just promised but delivered?