A report from Mbagathi Hospital has confirmed that Albert Ojwang’ was already dead by the time police officers brought him in for “medical treatment” on June 8.
The death of Ojwang’ in police custody has sparked national outrage and protests in Nairobi.
The hospital’s report, submitted to National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security states that Ojwang’ was received at the facility at 2:00 a.m., and that medical personnel on duty found him already deceased.
The findings directly contradict earlier claims by police that they had rushed Ojwang’ for urgent medical assistance after finding him “unresponsive” in custody.
“The Medical Officer on call assessed the male and confirmed it to be a corpse brought in dead,” reads the report. “Patient brought in dead, notification of death form filled and police advised to go to KNH police station and to City Mortuary thereafter.”
According to the medical officer and nurses who were on duty at the time, Ojwang’s body bore clear signs of trauma, indicating he may have suffered significant physical harm prior to his death.
Their observations aligned with the hospital’s final assessment: that he was not a patient in need of emergency care, but a deceased person brought from the Central Police Station.
Nurses present that night also confirmed the body showed no signs of life upon arrival.
The police had earlier claimed they discovered Ojwang’ unresponsive around 1:39 a.m. and rushed him to Mbagathi Hospital. However, the hospital’s report makes clear that by the time he arrived, there was no hope of revival — and suggests there may never have been.
Ojwang’, a teacher and vocal advocate on social issues via social media, was arrested on June 7 and booked at Central Police Station that night.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is currently investigating Ojwang’s death, along with 17 other recent cases of deaths in police custody across the country.
IPOA has seized tampered CCTV footage from the station and confirmed that the system’s data had been altered just hours after the teacher was taken to hospital.
by Allan Kisia
