Hospital report contradicts police claims, deepening questions about teacher’s death in custody
A damning medical report from Mbagathi Hospital has exposed glaring inconsistencies in police accounts of Albert Ojwang’s death, revealing that the teacher was already deceased when officers brought him to the facility on June 8.
The hospital’s official report, submitted to the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, states that Ojwang was received at 2:00 a.m. with medical personnel immediately confirming he was already dead upon arrival.
“The Medical Officer on call assessed the male and confirmed it to be a corpse brought in dead,” the report reads.
“Patient brought in dead, notification of death form filled and police advised to go to KNH police station and to City Mortuary thereafter.”
This finding directly contradicts earlier police statements claiming they had “discovered Ojwang unresponsive around 1:39 a.m. and rushed him to Mbagathi Hospital” for urgent medical treatment.
The medical report paints a disturbing picture of Ojwang’s condition.
According to the medical officer and nurses on duty, the teacher’s body bore clear signs of trauma, indicating he may have suffered significant physical harm before his death.
The medical staff confirmed there were no signs of life upon arrival, suggesting that any hope of revival had long passed.
Ojwang, a teacher and vocal social media advocate, was arrested on June 7 and booked at Central Police Station that night.
His death has sparked national outrage and protests across Nairobi, with many questioning the circumstances surrounding his detention.
Investigation Reveals Tampering
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is currently investigating Ojwang’s death alongside 17 other recent cases of deaths in police custody nationwide.
In a troubling development, IPOA has seized CCTV footage from Central Police Station that shows evidence of tampering, with the system’s data altered just hours after Ojwang was taken to the hospital.
This discovery adds another layer of suspicion to an already controversial case, suggesting possible attempts to cover up the true circumstances of the teacher’s death.
Ojwang’s case represents a troubling pattern in Kenya’s law enforcement system.
The fact that he was transported hundreds of kilometers from his place of arrest to Nairobi, combined with the subsequent attempts to present his death as a medical emergency, raises serious questions about police conduct and accountability.
The medical report’s stark contradiction of police accounts has further eroded public trust in law enforcement, particularly among young Kenyans who have increasingly used social media to voice their concerns about governance and human rights.
As IPOA continues its investigation, the evidence from Mbagathi Hospital provides crucial documentation that challenges the official narrative.
The case has become a flashpoint for broader discussions about police brutality, transparency in law enforcement, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
The teacher’s death serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of those who speak out on social issues, and the urgent need for reforms in how police handle suspects in custody.
With clear medical evidence now contradicting police claims, the pressure mounts for a thorough investigation and accountability for those responsible.
The revelation that Ojwang was already dead when brought to the hospital transforms this from a case of alleged medical emergency to one of potential homicide, fundamentally altering the scope and urgency of the ongoing investigation.
