The mysterious death of Albert Ojwang in police custody has ignited a storm of outrage across Kenya, with human rights defenders and legal experts calling for an urgent independent investigation.
Ojwang, a well-known social commentator and critic of state excesses, was arrested on June 7, 2025, by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Homa Bay.
Instead of being booked at a local police station, he was transported over 400 kilometers away to Nairobi.
Suspicious Charges, Even More Suspicious Journey
Police later claimed Ojwang had been arrested for “false publication”—yet they have failed to provide any evidence of the alleged post, name the complainant, or cite the relevant legal provisions. Even more troubling is the explanation for his death.
Authorities say Ojwang “hit his head on the wall” while in his cell at Central Police Station, then died after being rushed to Mbagathi Hospital.
Critics have pointed out that Mbagathi is not the nearest hospital—Kenyatta National and Nairobi West hospitals are much closer to Central Police Station.
The decision to bypass them and drive a bleeding man across town raises serious doubts about the police version of events. Many see this not as poor judgment, but as a deliberate attempt to cover up misconduct.
Why Was He Taken to Nairobi at All?
One of the biggest unanswered questions is why Ojwang was transferred to Nairobi in the first place. There are dozens of police stations and courts between Homa Bay and Nairobi that could have handled the matter locally. His long-distance transfer suggests a calculated move to isolate him from his community, legal counsel, and the media.
Was He Targeted for His Views?
Suspicion is now falling on Deputy Inspector General Eliud Langat, who some believe ordered the arrest in retaliation for Ojwang’s social media posts, which were critical of high-ranking security and political figures.
The lack of transparency, absence of due process, and the sudden death all point to a system where power can be misused to silence dissent.
Ojwang had gained a following for his bold views and exposés on corruption. For some in power, he was more than a nuisance—he was a threat.
His supporters believe that removing him from Homa Bay and hiding him in a Nairobi cell was no coincidence. It was part of a plan to silence a voice that had become inconvenient.
Demand for Truth and Accountability
Amnesty International and other civil society groups are now demanding an independent probe led by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
But many Kenyans remain skeptical, citing IPOA’s history of stalled investigations and delayed justice. The anger over Ojwang’s death is growing, amplified by the fact that his family was only notified when it was too late to save him.
The National Police Service wants Kenyans to believe that a healthy young man died within hours of his arrest—allegedly for a non-violent, speech-related offense—by accident. But the public is demanding answers.
Where is the CCTV footage? Who was on duty? Why was there no booking at the Homa Bay station? And why the silence from the highest ranks of law enforcement?
Unless these questions are addressed transparently and swiftly, Albert Ojwang’s death will remain not just suspicious—but a damning indictment of a system that punishes criticism more harshly than crime.