Head injury, neck compression caused Ojwang’s death, autopsy
An autopsy on the body of Albert Ojwang’ reveals that he died as a result of head injury and neck compression, with multiple injuries spread across the body.
Speaking at a press briefing, Government pathologist Dr. Bernard Midia stated that bleeding patterns on the head were not consistent with self-infliction, indicating the injuries were likely caused by external forces.
“We found serious injuries on the head, neck compression, and soft tissue injuries spread across the body,” Dr. Midia said.
Adding that: “The pattern of the injuries on the head was spatially spread, including the face, back and side of the head. When we tie up together with other injuries that are well spread in the body, including the upper limbs under the trunk, then this is unlikely to be self-inflicted injuries.”
The Pathologist says there were signs of struggle, noting that tissue samples have been collected for further analysis by forensic laboratories to assist in the investigation.
The autopsy was conducted by a team of five forensic pathologists, including representatives from various interested parties, such as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), Kenya National Human Rights Commission and the Independent Medical Legal Organization. The family of the deceased was also represented during the postmortem.
Initially, the police alleged that the deceased had hit his head against the walls of the police station cells and died while being taken to Mbagathi Hospital for treatment.
However, the Ojwang family’s lawyer, Julius Juma, said the body bore signs of severe physical trauma, including swelling on the head, nose and ears.
Interdicted officers
The National Police Service has released the names of six officers attached to the Central Police Station who have been interdicted.
They are Officer Commanding Station Samson Talaam, duty officer Samuel Ng’ang’a, Corporal Charles Muruki, and police constables Debian Lusweti, Peter Kimani, and Evaline Kanyiri.
“To ensure a thorough, impartial, and expeditious investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the Inspector General of the National Police has ordered the interdiction of the officers with immediate effect,” said Michael Muchiri, the police spokesperson, in a statement.
Meanwhile, the former Prime Minister and ODM party leader, Raila Odinga has criticised the police over the death of Albert Omondi Ojwang in police custody.
The circumstances surrounding the death of the 31-year-old teacher and blogger has sparked outrage, with Odinga stating that the incident has eroded the authority and credibility of both the police force and the state.
“While these deaths cause tremendous pain to individuals and their families, they seriously erode the authority and credibility of the police and the state, and that is a significant step towards chaos and collapse, he noted.
“When citizens can no longer tell the difference between the two forms of injustice- police injustice and mob injustice- we are staring at the reality of failure as a nation”, he regretted.
Odinga, at the same time, voiced his concern over alleged extrajudicial killings witnessed in the last two years.
Also read https://www.kbc.co.ke/ig-kanja-suspends-officers-over-albert-ojwangs-death/
https://www.kbc.co.ke/raila-ojwangs-death-undermines-police-credibility-and-authority/