Family casts doubt on police version of how Omondi met his death
Family lawyer says his body had a lot of injuries on the head, the hand, and the shoulder
Doubt has been cast by the family of the late Albert Omondi Ojwang that their kin was found unconscious in a police cell at the Central Police Station as stated by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.
Speaking to the media after viewing the body of the deceased at the Nairobi Funeral Home, Omondi’s family lawyer Julius Juma said he had shoulder, hand, and head injuries.
He also stated that he had blood oozing from his nose.
“The body had a lot of injuries on the head, the hand, and the shoulder. There was a lot of blood oozing from the nose,” Omondi told the press.
He added that the head of the deceased was very swollen, posing questions about the circumstances of how he may have been injured.
The late Omondi was arrested on Saturday at his home in Homa Bay by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on allegations of false publication regarding the Deputy Inspector General of Police (KPS) Eliud Lagat and placed in custody at the Central Police Station in Nairobi.
The National Police Service Spokesperson confirmed his arrest over the weekend as he shared his death, alleging that he was pronounced dead on arrival at Mbagathi Hospital, where he had been taken after sustaining head injuries after hitting his head against the cell wall.
Muchiri explained that officers on duty took immediate action to address the situation once they realized the suspect was injured.
“Police officers on duty promptly noticed the injuries and rushed him to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival,” the NPS spokesperson stated.
Earlier today, the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, confirmed that Omondi was arrested together with a few others, whom he did not mention, nor give the exact number.
The IG stated that investigations have been on the alleged tarnishing of the name of Lagat, which has not been specifically identified.
“The reason why the late Albert was arrested, together with a few others, is that a complaint had been launched by the DIG) Kenya Police (Eliud Lagat) about his name being tarnished, so it was on that basis that investigations were being carried out,” Kanja stated.
He reiterated that the DIG is also protected by the law.
“The DIG also has the right to be protected by the same law,” he stated.
However, the family of the deceased has maintained that those involved in the death of their kin should face the law.
A postmortem is currently underway to ascertain the exact cause of his death.
