On June 6, 2025, Albert Ojwang, 31, a blogger and teacher from Homa Bay, was arrested for an alleged online defamation of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat and urgently transferred from Homa Bay County to the Central Police Station in Nairobi—over 400 km away. Two days later, on June 8, he was found dead in his cell; local police initially described it as a “suspected suicide,” without releasing any surveillance footage or medical details. An autopsy performed by five independent pathologists ruled out suicide, revealing skull fractures consistent with blows from another person, neck compression, and numerous bruises—unequivocal signs of violence. Based on these findings, the case was reclassified as a homicide, and five officers on duty at the Nairobi station were suspended.
On June 23, 2025, the Prosecutor’s Office formally charged six people, including three police officers, with murder, while testimony emerged that superiors had ordered “strong measures” against Ojwang. These revelations sparked demonstrations nationwide: young people, civil‑rights groups, and the Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) accused the government of protecting corrupt officials and decried a culture of impunity. President William Ruto called the case “heart‑breaking and unacceptable” and promised an impartial investigation—but he did not suspend Deputy Inspector General Lagat, raising doubts about his true commitment to reform. The Council of Governors and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) have demanded full transparency of surveillance footage and the rapid release of all video recordings from the police station.
Albert Ojwang’s death has become a symbol of the struggle over digital rights and the escalation of “legalized” violence. Late‑June protests—sparked by last year’s demonstrations against tax hikes—gained fresh momentum from calls for truth and justice for Ojwang: at least eight people were killed in the clashes that followed. As the trial of the accused officers continues, the broader fight over police reform and the independence of investigative bodies remains unresolved. The Ojwang case not only exposes a grave instance of institutional violence but also highlights the fragility of procedural safeguards in Kenya: police transparency and the right to online criticism are now at the center of political debate, with potential repercussions for the next elections.
According to Boniface Mwanghi, “Albert Ojwang has been silenced forever by Ruto’s regime. Just a month ago he was overjoyed at becoming a father. Albert was a teacher who used his social media channels to fight for a better Kenya. DCI officers picked him up from his home in Homa Bay and, after driving over 350 km to Nairobi, murdered him in a cold holding cell.” Mwanghi emphasizes that Ojwang’s only “crime” was accusing Deputy Inspector General Lagat—accurately, given rampant corruption—of collecting bribes amounting to Ksh 100 million per month. “If Lagat pockets that kind of money,” Mwanghi explains, “the funds must reach his boss, Kanja, and their political godfather, Mr. Ruto. Ruto is the king of ruin: he’d rather burn Kenya to the ground to rule over the ashes. We will not allow one sociopath to destroy the country.” These words capture the outrage of those who refuse to accept impunity in the face of institutional violence and corruption.
