A postmortem on the late Albert Ojwang, a Kisii-based teacher and influencer, has ruled out suicide or self-harm as the cause of his death. Instead, pathologist Dr. Bernard Midia confirmed that Ojwang succumbed to severe head trauma and neck compression, pointing to a violent death while in police custody.
Highlights:
- Autopsy confirms Ojwang died from serious head injuries and neck compression.
- Injuries are consistent with assault and not self-inflicted trauma.
- The report contradicts earlier police claims of a jail-cell accident.
- Law Society of Kenya calls for accountability, citing signs of torture.
- IPOA and DCI are now involved in the ongoing investigations.
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Renowned government pathologist Dr. Bernard Midia conducted the autopsy at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital and concluded that Ojwang died from blunt force trauma to the head and neck compression. The injuries also included defensive wounds on his arms and soft-tissue injuries, strongly indicating he was violently attacked.
Initially, police claimed that Ojwang, who had been arrested for alleged misconduct, died after repeatedly hitting his head on a wall inside his cell. However, Dr. Midia stated that there was no evidence to support this, calling the injuries inconsistent with self-harm or accidental trauma.
Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo, who attended the autopsy, condemned the circumstances of Ojwang’s death, describing the findings as “classic signs of torture.” She urged the police to reveal who ordered Ojwang’s arrest and what transpired in the hours before his death. Human rights bodies and legal associations are demanding full transparency and justice.
With the postmortem findings contradicting official police statements, pressure is mounting on state authorities. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have joined the investigation. Samples from the body have been sent to government labs for further analysis.
As the truth emerges from the autopsy table, the demand for accountability grows louder: who killed Albert Ojwang, and will justice be delivered?
