Albert Ojwang Was Strangled to Death, Autopsy Confirms
An autopsy on the body of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang has revealed he died from head injuries, neck compression, and multiple soft tissue trauma—ruling out claims of self-inflicted harm.
Government pathologist Dr. Bernard Midia, who led the postmortem, confirmed Ojwang was strangled and had been struck multiple times on the head and other parts of the body. “He had head and neck injuries. There were other multiple injuries consistent with assault,” Midia said during a briefing at the Nairobi Funeral Home.
Ojwang had been arrested from his home in Homa Bay and died hours later in custody at the Central Police Station, Nairobi. A police report initially suggested that he had hit his head against a wall, but Midia dismissed this explanation, citing injury patterns inconsistent with such an incident.
“If someone hits themselves against a wall, you would expect bleeding on the front of the head. But the injuries we found were spread out—on the face, the sides, and the back of the head,” Midia said.
He emphasized that the distribution of injuries, including on Ojwang’s arms and torso, did not align with self-harm: “When you consider the spread of injuries across the upper limbs, trunk, and head, it’s unlikely this was self-inflicted.”
The autopsy findings have intensified pressure on security agencies, particularly after pathologists representing Ojwang’s family, including Dr. Mutuma Zambezi, corroborated the assault narrative.
Investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) were present during the autopsy. Human rights organisations and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) also observed the process.
LSK President Faith Odhiambo demanded accountability: “It is clear the innocent teacher was assaulted and killed in custody. We demand action from the authorities responsible.”
Ojwang’s death has sparked national outrage, with growing calls for justice and accountability in what is now confirmed to be a custodial killing. The investigation remains ongoing.
In other news: Teachers’ Unions Threaten Strike as TSC Delays CBA Talks and Budget Snubs Salary Review
Albert Ojwang Was Strangled to Death, Autopsy Confirms