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Created page with "= Albert Omondi Ojwang = '''Albert Omondi Ojwang''' (1993–2025) was a Kenyan teacher, blogger, and political activist. He was known for his outspoken criticism of government corruption and police abuse. His controversial death in police custody in June 2025 sparked national outrage and intensified calls for police reform in Kenya. == Early Life and Career == Albert Ojwang hailed from Kakoth village in Homa Bay County. He was a teacher and a tech-savvy political commen..."
 
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= Albert Omondi Ojwang =
= Abducted and killed in a police station =
'''Albert Omondi Ojwang''' (1993–2025) was a Kenyan teacher, blogger, and political activist. He was known for his outspoken criticism of government corruption and police abuse. His controversial death in police custody in June 2025 sparked national outrage and intensified calls for police reform in Kenya.


== Early Life and Career ==
'''Albert Omondi Ojwang''' (1993–2025) was a Kenyan teacher, blogger, and political activist. He gained national attention following his death in police custody, which led to widespread protests and renewed calls for police accountability in Kenya.
Albert Ojwang hailed from Kakoth village in Homa Bay County. He was a teacher and a tech-savvy political commentator who frequently published critical blog posts about governance, the police, and security services in Kenya. Prior to his death, Ojwang had written about corruption and impunity, particularly involving high-ranking officers.
 
== Early Life and Work ==
Ojwang hailed from Kakoth village in Homa Bay County. He worked as a teacher and was known online for his fearless criticism of corruption and impunity in public institutions, particularly the police.


== Arrest and Death ==
== Arrest and Death ==
Ojwang was arrested on 7 June 2025 for allegedly defaming Deputy Inspector-General of Police Eliud Lagat. He was detained in Homa Bay before being transferred over 350 km away to Central Police Station in Nairobi.
Ojwang was arrested on June 7, 2025, allegedly for publishing defamatory content targeting Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat. He was first detained at Mawego Police Station before being transferred over 350 kilometers to Central Police Station in Nairobi.


He died the following day, 8 June 2025, while in custody. An autopsy conducted by government pathologists revealed that he died of blunt force trauma and neck compression, ruling out suicide. His body showed signs consistent with torture and beating.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/13/kenyan-police-officer-arrested-anger-and-protests-over-death-in-custody-albert-ojwang|title=Kenyan police officer arrested amid protests over death of blogger Albert Ojwang|publisher=The Guardian|date=13 June 2025}}
On June 8, 2025, Ojwang was pronounced dead while in police custody. Initial police reports claimed that he had committed suicide by hitting his head against a wall. However, an autopsy revealed he died from blunt force trauma and neck compression, ruling out suicide.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/13/kenyan-police-officer-arrested-anger-and-protests-over-death-in-custody-albert-ojwang |title=Kenyan police officer arrested amid protests over death of blogger Albert Ojwang |date=2025-06-13 |website=The Guardian |access-date=2025-07-17}}</ref>


== Contradictory Official Statements ==
== Contradictory Official Statements ==
On 11 June 2025, both the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin and Inspector General (IG) of Police Douglas Kanja appeared before the Kenyan Senate to explain the circumstances of Ojwang's death.
The Kenyan Senate summoned top security officials to explain Ojwang’s death. On June 11, 2025, both the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Mohamed Amin, and Inspector General (IG) of Police, Douglas Kanja, testified.
 
* IG Douglas Kanja initially claimed that Ojwang had died by suicide, hitting his head against a cell wall. Days later, he retracted the statement and issued a public apology, admitting that the police had misled the public and Parliament.{{cite web|url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/article/2001521506/we-misled-the-country-on-ojwangs-death-kanja-tells-senators|title=We misled the country on Ojwang’s death, Kanja tells Senators|publisher=Standard Media|date=12 June 2025}}


* DCI Mohamed Amin defended the police timeline based on digital Occurrence Book (OB) entries, stating that Ojwang was booked at 21:32, visited by officers at 01:35, found unresponsive at 01:39, and rushed to the hospital shortly afterward. He denied that his statement was personal opinion, saying he was simply reading digital records.{{cite web|url=https://www.citizen.digital/news/dci-boss-amin-blames-misinterpretation-as-perjury-claims-emerge-in-ojwang-case-n365529|title=DCI boss Amin blames misinterpretation as perjury claims emerge in Ojwang case|publisher=Citizen Digital|date=13 June 2025}}
=== DCI's Account ===
DCI Mohamed Amin stated that the timeline of Ojwang’s custody was based on entries in the digital Occurrence Book (OB). According to Amin, Ojwang was booked at 21:32, visited by officers at 01:35, found unconscious at 01:39, and taken to the hospital shortly thereafter.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.citizen.digital/news/dci-boss-amin-blames-misinterpretation-as-perjury-claims-emerge-in-ojwang-case-n365529 |title=DCI boss Amin blames misinterpretation as perjury claims emerge in Ojwang case |website=Citizen Digital |date=2025-06-13 |access-date=2025-07-17}}</ref>


These contradictory accounts fueled suspicion of a police cover-up and strengthened calls for an independent investigation.
Amin insisted he was only reading digital records and had not interpreted them personally.


== Burning of Mawego Police Station ==
=== IG's Reversal and Apology ===
On 3 July 2025, during Ojwang's funeral procession, mourners intercepted the convoy and demanded the body be taken to Mawego Police Station, where he had initially been detained.
Initially, IG Douglas Kanja claimed Ojwang died by suicide. However, during the Senate session, he retracted the statement and issued a public apology for misleading the public and lawmakers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/article/2001521506/we-misled-the-country-on-ojwangs-death-kanja-tells-senators |title=We misled the country on Ojwang’s death, Kanja tells Senators |website=Standard Media |date=2025-06-12 |access-date=2025-07-17}}</ref>


* Hundreds of mourners, including students and youth, carried the coffin on foot for over three hours.
He admitted that the police had mishandled communication and stated that the matter was under investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
* The group stormed Mawego Police Station, which had been vacated, and set fire to buildings including the report office, OCS residence, and administrative block.{{cite web|url=https://www.citizen.digital/news/police-station-torched-as-thousands-protest-while-carrying-albert-ojwangs-coffin-n365689|title=Police Station torched as thousands protest while carrying Albert Ojwang’s coffin|publisher=Citizen Digital|date=3 July 2025}}


The police did not engage the protesters directly but attempted to extinguish the fire with buckets. The arson was condemned by authorities, and seven individuals were later arrested and charged.{{cite web|url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2025-07-08-seven-arrested-over-torching-of-mawego-police-station/|title=Seven arrested over torching of Mawego Police Station|publisher=The Star|date=8 July 2025}}
== Protests and Burning of Mawego Police Station ==
On July 3, 2025, during Ojwang’s funeral procession in Homa Bay County, mourners forcefully diverted the convoy to Mawego Police Station. The station, previously used to detain Ojwang, had been vacated by officers fearing retaliation.


== Legal and Political Fallout ==
Thousands of demonstrators set fire to the OCS residence, report office, and administration block.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.citizen.digital/news/police-station-torched-as-thousands-protest-while-carrying-albert-ojwangs-coffin-n365689 |title=Police Station torched as thousands protest while carrying Albert Ojwang’s coffin |website=Citizen Digital |date=2025-07-03 |access-date=2025-07-17}}</ref> 
Ojwang’s death led to the arrest of multiple officers, including the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Central Police Station, who was named a primary suspect in the killing.{{cite web|url=https://channel15news.co.ke/ig-kanja-issues-rare-apology-as-dci-confirms-central-police-ocs-is-prime-suspect-in-blogger-ojwangs-shocking-death/|title=IG Kanja Issues Rare Apology as DCI Confirms Central Police OCS is Prime Suspect|publisher=Channel15 News|date=14 June 2025}}
Police attempted to extinguish the fire but made no arrests at the scene. Days later, seven individuals were arrested and charged in connection with the arson.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2025-07-08-seven-arrested-over-torching-of-mawego-police-station/ |title=Seven arrested over torching of Mawego Police Station |website=The Star |date=2025-07-08 |access-date=2025-07-17}}</ref>


Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) launched a full investigation and was granted unrestricted access to police records and CCTV footage, some of which was found deleted.
== Investigations and Political Fallout ==
The Central Police Station Officer Commanding Station (OCS) was later arrested and named a key suspect in Ojwang’s death.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://channel15news.co.ke/ig-kanja-issues-rare-apology-as-dci-confirms-central-police-ocs-is-prime-suspect-in-blogger-ojwangs-shocking-death/ |title=IG Kanja Issues Rare Apology as DCI Confirms Central Police OCS is Prime Suspect |website=Channel 15 News |date=2025-06-14 |access-date=2025-07-17}}</ref>


Kenyan President William Ruto acknowledged publicly that Ojwang had died at the hands of police, marking a significant shift from earlier official narratives.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/kenyas-president-says-blogger-died-at-hands-police-2025-06-11/|title=Kenya's Ruto says blogger died at hands of police|publisher=Reuters|date=11 June 2025}}
President William Ruto publicly stated that Ojwang had died at the hands of the police, contradicting earlier official versions and indicating a major shift in the government's stance.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/kenyas-president-says-blogger-died-at-hands-police-2025-06-11/ |title=Kenya's Ruto says blogger died at hands of police |website=Reuters |date=2025-06-11 |access-date=2025-07-17}}</ref>


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==
Albert Ojwang’s death became a rallying cry for justice reform in Kenya. His family, community, and human rights organizations have called for institutional accountability and the prosecution of those responsible.
Ojwang's death has become emblematic of rising concerns over custodial deaths, police brutality, and impunity in Kenya. His supporters, family, and civil rights groups have demanded full accountability and systemic reform.


A number of digital memorials and independent documentation projects, such as [https://wikizetu.online WikiZetu], have chronicled the events surrounding his death as part of a broader effort to preserve citizen-led histories beyond social media.
Citizen-led platforms such as [https://wikizetu.online WikiZetu] have begun documenting incidents like Ojwang’s to ensure a permanent, verifiable public record exists beyond the volatility of social media.


== See Also ==
== See Also ==
* [[Police brutality in Kenya]]
* [[Police brutality in Kenya]]
* [[Independent Policing Oversight Authority]]
* [[Custodial deaths in Kenya]]
* [[Custodial deaths in Kenya]]
* [[Human rights in Kenya]]


== References ==
== References ==
<references />
<references />

Revision as of 22:42, 17 July 2025

Abducted and killed in a police station

Albert Omondi Ojwang (1993–2025) was a Kenyan teacher, blogger, and political activist. He gained national attention following his death in police custody, which led to widespread protests and renewed calls for police accountability in Kenya.

Early Life and Work

Ojwang hailed from Kakoth village in Homa Bay County. He worked as a teacher and was known online for his fearless criticism of corruption and impunity in public institutions, particularly the police.

Arrest and Death

Ojwang was arrested on June 7, 2025, allegedly for publishing defamatory content targeting Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat. He was first detained at Mawego Police Station before being transferred over 350 kilometers to Central Police Station in Nairobi.

On June 8, 2025, Ojwang was pronounced dead while in police custody. Initial police reports claimed that he had committed suicide by hitting his head against a wall. However, an autopsy revealed he died from blunt force trauma and neck compression, ruling out suicide.[1]

Contradictory Official Statements

The Kenyan Senate summoned top security officials to explain Ojwang’s death. On June 11, 2025, both the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Mohamed Amin, and Inspector General (IG) of Police, Douglas Kanja, testified.

DCI's Account

DCI Mohamed Amin stated that the timeline of Ojwang’s custody was based on entries in the digital Occurrence Book (OB). According to Amin, Ojwang was booked at 21:32, visited by officers at 01:35, found unconscious at 01:39, and taken to the hospital shortly thereafter.[2]

Amin insisted he was only reading digital records and had not interpreted them personally.

IG's Reversal and Apology

Initially, IG Douglas Kanja claimed Ojwang died by suicide. However, during the Senate session, he retracted the statement and issued a public apology for misleading the public and lawmakers.[3]

He admitted that the police had mishandled communication and stated that the matter was under investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).

Protests and Burning of Mawego Police Station

On July 3, 2025, during Ojwang’s funeral procession in Homa Bay County, mourners forcefully diverted the convoy to Mawego Police Station. The station, previously used to detain Ojwang, had been vacated by officers fearing retaliation.

Thousands of demonstrators set fire to the OCS residence, report office, and administration block.[4] Police attempted to extinguish the fire but made no arrests at the scene. Days later, seven individuals were arrested and charged in connection with the arson.[5]

Investigations and Political Fallout

The Central Police Station Officer Commanding Station (OCS) was later arrested and named a key suspect in Ojwang’s death.[6]

President William Ruto publicly stated that Ojwang had died at the hands of the police, contradicting earlier official versions and indicating a major shift in the government's stance.[7]

Legacy

Ojwang's death has become emblematic of rising concerns over custodial deaths, police brutality, and impunity in Kenya. His supporters, family, and civil rights groups have demanded full accountability and systemic reform.

Citizen-led platforms such as WikiZetu have begun documenting incidents like Ojwang’s to ensure a permanent, verifiable public record exists beyond the volatility of social media.

See Also

References