By Brian Said Iha, July 21, 2026
The High Court has heard that teacher Albert Odhiambo Ojwang was brutally tortured, assaulted and strangled to death while being held in a police cell at Nairobi’s Central Police Station, with witnesses dismissing earlier claims that his death resulted from an accidental injury.
During proceedings before Justice Diana Kavedza, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga led witnesses through the events of June 7 and 8, 2025, presenting evidence that challenged the initial police account and pointed to a deliberate killing while Ojwang was in state custody.
According to the prosecution, witnesses testified that Ojwang sustained multiple injuries after being repeatedly beaten with a blunt object before he was allegedly strangled to death inside the police cell.
The court further heard that Ojwang had been arrested and detained following a complaint made by Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat, with prosecutors seeking to establish the sequence of events from his arrest to his death.
Medical and forensic experts who testified before the court rejected the initial explanation that Ojwang died after accidentally hitting his head against a wall, saying the nature and extent of his injuries were consistent with a violent assault rather than an accident.
In another key development, a cybercrime expert told the court that the Central Police Station’s CCTV storage system had been deliberately wiped and formatted, resulting in the loss of surveillance footage that could have captured the events surrounding Ojwang’s detention and death.
The prosecution argued that the deletion of the footage was a calculated attempt to conceal the identities and actions of those involved in the incident.
The trial has also heard that several officers who were on duty at the station, alongside other suspects, had a legal responsibility to ensure the safety and welfare of all persons held in custody.
Among those facing charges are former Central Police Station Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Samson Talaam, two police constables and three civilian cellmates, who have been charged with murder and conspiracy in connection with Ojwang’s death.
The prosecution maintains that the accused persons acted jointly and failed in their duty of care, ultimately leading to the teacher’s death while under police custody.
The case has drawn widespread public attention and renewed calls from human rights organisations, legal experts and civil society groups for accountability, transparency and justice in cases involving deaths in police custody.
The High Court is expected to continue hearing testimony from additional witnesses as the prosecution seeks to establish individual responsibility and prove the murder charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.
