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IPOA chair explains why no arrest has been made regarding Ojwang’s death

Thursday 12th June, 2025 03:02 PM| By Luke Oluoch

The Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA) has explained why no arrests have been made five days after the death of Albert Ojwang.

Speaking in parliament on Thursday, June 12, 2025, IPOA’s Chairman Isaack Hassan said that they lack the powers to make arrests like the police.

“We have not arrested anyone because we don’t have the power to arrest. There are people who, as we speak, we should have in custodial sentences,” Hassan said.

“The police are allowed to arrest people, negotiate bails, etc., and we should also be able to do that too,” he stated.

Hassan, however, revealed that the agency has so far questioned 23 persons in relation to the incident, including members of the police force on duty during the night of Ojwang’s death and civilians of interest.

National Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja (centre) with Deputy IGs Eliud Lagat (left) and Gilbert Masengeli (second left) among other senior officers during a press briefing on June 9, 2025, at the Central Police Station in Nairobi on the death of influencer Albert Ojwang. PHOTO/Bernard Malonza

“We have taken statements from all the police who went to make the arrest in Homa Bay- all five of them. The officers in the Central Police Station, the OCS, the deputy OCS, the sentry officers, and all others.

“There are 17 in total from day and night, and all those from the shift that followed. In total, we have interviewed 23 people, including civilians of interest,” he stated.

During the open session in parliament, Hassan reiterated the agency’s capacity to investigate the matter, stressing that they will be relying on the forensic evidence collected despite the anticipated challenges.

“We have the capacity to investigate. We anticipate a certain level of blue code of silence and cases of non-compliance, but there is also other evidence collected if officers fail to cooperate. We have the DNA, blood, and CCTV cameras, which we are confident we can use,” he added.

“However, we need more staff for this kind of work. Our current investigators are focusing on this as a matter of public interest. Every other day, there are these cases arising from police action in line with public order management. So we need more investigators,” he stated.

Hassan further shed light on the claims that the CCTV footage in the police station was interfered with.

“It is true somebody was called to come and delete a particular section of the footage, and he did that,” he confirmed.