Top security officials have landed in Homa Bay County as tensions mount ahead of the burial of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, whose death inside police custody has shocked the nation.
Ojwang died on the night of June 7, at the Nairobi Central Police Station. He had been arrested in his hometown of Homa Bay before being transferred to the capital. His death, under unclear circumstances, has sparked national outrage and renewed scrutiny over police conduct.
On Thursday afternoon, emotions boiled over. As Ojwang’s body arrived in his home village in Rachuonyo, a crowd of mourners descended on the nearby Mawego Police Station. Witnesses say the mourners, some of them students from a local polytechnic, diverted the hearse to the station in protest.
“They were grieving, angry, and demanding answers,” said a local elder who asked not to be named for security reasons.
The crowd overran the station despite police efforts to disperse them with teargas. Some mourners carried Ojwang’s casket through the compound while others reportedly ransacked the station. Offices, including that of the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), were set ablaze. Police said national and police flags, as well as the station signage, were stolen during the chaos. Several houses belonging to officers living nearby were also looted. No injuries were reported, and police confirmed the armoury remained secure.
Following the unrest, Nyanza Regional Commissioner Florence Mworia and Regional Police Commander Gisiri Nyamohanga visited the site, accompanied by officials from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). Mworia ordered a full investigation into the attack and called for calm.
The atmosphere in the area remains tense, with heavy police deployment ahead of Ojwang’s burial, scheduled for Friday.
National attention turned sharply to the case after Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat stepped aside on 16 June to allow IPOA to carry out independent investigations.
“I have taken this step in good conscience,” Lagat said in a public statement. “My decision will ensure the inquiry proceeds without interference.”
At least six individuals, including senior police officers, have been charged with Ojwang’s murder. Among them are Central Police Station OCS Samson Talaam and Police Constable James Mukhwana. Others charged include Peter Kimani, John Ginge Gitau, Gin Ammitou Abwao, and Brian Mwaniki Njue.
Prosecutors told the court that the accused jointly murdered Ojwang while he was being held in custody between June 7 and 8.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has strongly opposed their release on bail, citing the seriousness of the offence and risk of interference with investigations.
Justice Diana Kavedza heard that Talaam was in charge of the station, Mukhwana manned the daytime cells, and Kimani was responsible for the night shift during the time of Ojwang’s death. All six have denied the charges.
Ojwang’s death has reignited national debate around police accountability and brutality. IPOA has promised a thorough probe. The public, meanwhile, waits for answers and justice.
“This is not just about Albert,” said a protester outside the court last week. “It’s about all the people we’ve lost in silence.”
