Questions united opposition want answered on Ojwang's death

In a joint address delivered Wednesday at the SK Command Centre, the opposition leaders raised a series of pressing questions they say the state must answer immediately.

Ojwang, a Kiswahili and Religious Studies teacher based in Voi, was arrested on June 7 in Kakot, Homa Bay county, allegedly for a social media post critical of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat.

The opposition leaders said police assured Ojwang’s family that he was safe and only required a coat “because Nairobi was cold”, but less than 48 hours later, he was declared dead at Mbagathi Hospital.

“This is no ordinary gathering,” the United Opposition said.

“Albert’s family has questions. We have questions. Kenyans have questions. And the international community has questions.”

The key questions the group wants answered are as follows:

Was a formal complaint made?

The opposition is demanding the production of an official complaint from DIG Lagat, including the police station at which it was filed, the date, time, and corresponding OB number.

“Was due process followed in the arrest of Albert Ojwang?” they asked.

Why was Ojwang moved from Homa Bay to Nairobi?

The coalition wants a full account of why the teacher was transferred over 400 kilometres, to Nairobi’s Central police station, and insists on knowing the names and ranks of the officers involved.

Where is the CCTV footage?

Nairobi's Central police station is equipped with surveillance cameras.

“If there is footage, it must be released immediately. If there is none, then who ordered the cameras switched off?” they queried.

Who inflicted the injuries?

Ojwang was reportedly healthy and uninjured at the time of his arrest and was reportedly having lunch with his family when he was picked up.

The opposition said multiple sources claim he arrived at the Central police station bloodied and with visible, serious injuries.

They said there are 26 hours that remain unaccounted for between Homa by and Nairobi, between which time he may have been assaulted.

“We demand to know who brutalised him,” the statement read.

Was Ojwang held in solitary confinement?

The opposition has also questioned whether Ojwang was isolated and held in solitary confinement, and if not, called for the production of the full cell register to verify the number and identities of his cellmates.

"Why was Albert considered a high-risk criminal? If he was not in solitary confinement as alleged, who were his cellmates and how many were there?

Why is Ipoa investigating the death instead of DCI?

The opposition dismissed the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) move to refer the matter to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority as a “diversionary tactic”.

The leaders said that under the constitution, the DPP should have instructed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations directly.

"The mandate of the DPP under the Constitution of Kenya is to direct the National Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations," they said.

Will DIG Lagat be held accountable?

Twenty-four hours after the release of their statement, the United Opposition said Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat should have resigned.

This, they said, was because "the postmortem on Ojwang is clear. He was murdered."

"We similarly demand that the junior officers currently being prosecuted be given witness prosecution with immediate effect. Their lives are in danger because they know the truth," the leaders said.

Present during the reading of the statement were Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, his DAP-K counterpart Eugene Wamalwa, former Deputy President and DCP party leader Rigathi Gachagua, DP chairman Justin Muturi and a host of senators, county representatives and MPs allied to the opposition.