NAIROBI — The Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, has laid out a detailed timeline of the final hours of Kenyan blogger Albert Ojwang, who died under mysterious circumstances while in police custody.
Ojwang, who was known for his bold posts on social media, had been arrested over allegations of defaming a senior police official. He died just hours after being booked into Nairobi’s Central Police Station.
Now, his death is raising questions — not just about what happened that night, but about the growing tension between online critics and state authorities.
The Complaint That Set Everything in Motion
It all began on 4 June, when Deputy Inspector General Eliud Langat filed a formal complaint with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). Langat accused unknown persons of running an online smear campaign against him on X (formerly Twitter).
The posts accused Langat of widespread corruption. One post claimed he had placed loyal officers in charge of critical departments like the DCI desks and traffic operations to “control revenue and intelligence.”
Another went further. It showed Langat in a photo alongside an officer identified as Chirchir and alleged he had purchased a $2.6 million property in Dubai. The post suggested the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) was probing him.
Inspector General Kanja told the Senate:
“The EACC was contacted to verify the claims, and they responded the same day, confirming that Langat was not under investigation.”
Still, the case was escalated. The DCI’s Serious Crimes Unit launched a probe under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act. The Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) was also brought in to help identify the people behind the X posts.
CAK confirmed the posts came from accounts linked to specific individuals — including Ojwang.
The Arrests Begin
On 5 June, the investigation took a turn. Police arrested a man named Kelvin Muinde, who they say confessed to being part of a network of bloggers. He allegedly named others involved — including Albert Ojwang, Dorcas Mawia, Douglas Marigiri, and Peter Mbugua.
Investigators said they found similar posts on Ojwang’s account, prompting a decision to arrest him.
Two days later, officers from Nairobi travelled to Mawego, in western Kenya, to pick him up. He was first held briefly at Mawego Police Station, then moved to Nairobi that same day.
Ojwang’s Final Journey
The drive to Nairobi included a stop in Narok, where, according to police, Ojwang asked for water and snacks. He was given water, soda, and biscuits.
The police team arrived at Central Police Station in Nairobi at 9:17 p.m. on 7 June. Minutes later, at 9:24 p.m., Ojwang made a phone call to his wife, assuring her he had arrived safely.
At 9:35 p.m., he was booked into custody by Police Constable Mohamed Rashid, who noted that Ojwang was in stable physical and mental condition.
But just a few hours later, in the early morning of 8 June, officers checking the cells found him unconscious.
He was rushed to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival at 1:31 a.m.
Inspector General Kanja said the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) was notified immediately.
Questions and Scrutiny
Ojwang’s sudden death has sent shockwaves through the country, especially among press freedom advocates and civil society groups.
His family is demanding answers. Human rights organisations have raised alarm over what they say is a worrying pattern of police harassment against outspoken citizens.
The Senate has now summoned top police officials to explain the events in full.
So far, there is no post-mortem report made public. Authorities say investigations are ongoing.
For now, a family mourns. A nation watches. And questions remain — not just about what happened in that police cell, but about the cost of speaking out in today’s Kenya.
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