The head of Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Mohamed Amin, has denied misleading the Senate in his testimony about the final hours of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang, whose death in police custody continues to stir public anger.
Facing growing pressure after his appearance before a Senate committee last week, Amin came out swinging at a press briefing on Monday.
“I did not lie,” he said. “What I presented to the Senate was drawn directly from the digital Occurrence Book. These were not my words. These were entries made by police officers, recorded in real-time.”
Ojwang, a 34-year-old teacher from Voi, was arrested last month at his Homa Bay home after posting on social media about alleged corruption involving Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat. He was transferred to Nairobi, where he died while in custody.
The cause of death remains unclear. Official details have been slow to emerge, and the lack of transparency has only deepened suspicion.
Amin said his briefing to the Senate included details of Ojwang’s arrest, the time he was booked at the station, and when officers visited the Mbagathi mortuary-where Ojwang’s body was later found.
“Some people who do not mean well for the DCI have misinterpreted what I said,” Amin told journalists. “I was simply sharing facts. Not opinions. Not theories. Just facts from the system.”
His comments have not satisfied critics. Many accuse the DCI of failing to protect a citizen who had spoken out against powerful interests—and of now trying to cover it up.
Public outrage has grown steadily since Ojwang’s death. Protests erupted in Nairobi, and online campaigns—many led by Gen Z activists—have kept pressure on the government.
Chants of “Justice for Ojwang” echoed through the streets last weekend, as demonstrators demanded accountability from law enforcement and called for the resignation of DIG Lagat, who has not yet spoken publicly on the matter.
Rights groups and civil society organisations say the case highlights a deeper problem of unchecked police power.
“This is not just about one man’s death,” said Wanjiru Khamati, a human rights lawyer. “It’s about a system that silences dissent. If someone can be arrested over a Facebook post and end up dead, none of us are safe.”
As investigations continue, the Senate committee has said it will review Amin’s testimony for accuracy. Meanwhile, the public waits—with little faith and rising anger.
No official autopsy results have been released. And the family of Albert Ojwang says they have received no clear answers.
For now, they have only grief-and questions no one seems willing to answer.
