Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor Withdraws From Albert Ojwang’s Autopsy Amid Family Ties

Chief Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor has withdrawn from directly conducting the highly anticipated autopsy of popular influencer Albert Ojwang, which was scheduled for Monday afternoon. The post-mortem, initially set for 10 AM, was delayed until 2 PM to facilitate Dr. Oduor’s arrival.

Reports indicate that Dr. Oduor recused himself due to a conflict of interest, citing that Albert Ojwang is from his extended family. However, despite his withdrawal from the direct procedure, the renowned pathologist will remain part of the medical team overseeing the post-mortem, ensuring his expertise still contributes to the process.

Earlier on Monday, Dr. Oduor was seen with Ojwang’s family, reportedly engaged in a private meeting with immediate family members at the City Mortuary. The details of their discussion have not been made public.

Julius Juma, the family’s lawyer, emphasized the urgent need for the pathologist’s report, stating that the family was currently unable to definitively determine the cause of Ojwang’s death. Juma, who had viewed the body earlier, noted that the late teacher’s body reportedly bore fatal wounds to the head, with secondary injuries observed on his hands and shoulders.

Despite Dr. Oduor’s recusal from the direct autopsy, several other pathologists were on site to proceed with the examination. These included representatives from the police reforms working group and the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU).

As of the time of this article’s publication, the exact cause of Albert Ojwang’s death has not yet been publicly released.

Various lobby groups, including Amnesty, the Law Society of Kenya, Defenders’ Coalition, and VOCAL Africa, were also present at the City Mortuary, underscoring the significant public interest in the case. These groups have vowed to pursue clarity on all circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death, demanding accountability. “We want serious action taken against the officers involved. We are following up on the post-mortem to make sure we know the reason behind his death,” activist Hussein Khalid stated on Monday.

Dr. Johansen Oduor is a highly respected figure in Kenya’s forensic pathology, with a career spanning decades and involvement in numerous high-profile cases. His recent work includes determining that Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were died from excessive bleeding and organ collapse, and his participation in the investigation into the death of slain Human Resources Manager Willis Ayieko.