Gachagua links Albert Ojwang's death to a killer squad within police

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua during the Mwai Kibaki 2nd Memorial Lecture and Luncheon at Nairobi Serena Hotel, on April 11, 2025.[David Gichuru, Standard]

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched fresh allegations that there is a killer squad in the police service formed under President William Ruto's orders.

Speaking on Sunday at a church service in Kirinyaga, claimed the formation of the squad consisting of highly trained individuals received backing from the head of the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

“This issue of Albert Ojwang  is just the tip of the iceberg. Hundreds of young people have been tortured to death by a special squad of 101 officers that was set up on the instruction of William Ruto and seconded to NIS under Noordin Haji, and highly trained on abductions, torture, killings and cover-ups," Gachagua claimed.

Gachagua linked the squad to the latest incident of the killing of social media influencer Albert Ojwang.

He added that Ojwang’s death got out of control, as many Kenyans have died untimely at the hands of the squad.

The former DP went ahead, blaming President Ruto for the deaths, asking Kenyans to demand accountability from him.

He added that there is a cover-up in Ojwang’s murder case, “That case, there is a cover-up, IPOA officers, IG, DIG, DCI are Ruto’s allies. The DCI went to parliament, lied that Ojwang was taken to the hospital while still alive, so they must be prosecuted.”

He appealed for intervention from the international community, alleging that the president has compromised all oversight authorities.

Ojwang's death has ignited controversy and confusion within the security sector, with various officers providing inconsistent testimonies. 

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) director Amin Mohamed, Ojwang was found unconscious in his cell at 1:39 AM on June 8. 

He reported that Ojwang was taken to Mbagathi Hospital, arriving around 2 AM, where he was later pronounced dead.

However, CCTV footage  from the hospital indicates that a police car carrying Ojwang entered the compound at 1:35 AM, and he remained in the vehicle for 24 minutes before being attended to by medical staff. 

A hospital report noted that Ojwang was brought in dead; his body was cold and unresponsive, with a swollen face and a cut at the back of his head.