The tragic death of Albert Ojwang, while in police custody at the Central Police Station, has ignited a storm of condemnation across Kenya, casting a dark shadow over the government’s commitment to justice and accountability.
Ojwang, who was reportedly arrested in Migori and later transferred to Nairobi, died under suspicious circumstances. Police claim he “banged his head against the cell wall,” a narrative that has been widely rejected by leaders and the public alike.
Babu Owino: “That Narrative Holds No Water”
Embakasi East MP Hon. Babu Owino has come out strongly, denouncing the explanation given by police. “This narrative holds no water,” he said, firmly rejecting the idea that Ojwang’s death was self-inflicted. Babu described the killing as a deliberate act and called for immediate and impartial investigations.
He further criticized the growing misuse of the criminal justice system to silence dissenting voices, warning that such state repression is a betrayal of the reforms promised during the Raila-Ruto handshake.
Sifuna: “Kenyans Are Safer in the Hands of Gangs than the Police”
Nairobi Senator and ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna did not mince his words. He condemned the killing as a gross violation of human rights and an affront to the political ceasefire agreement signed at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
“This is an affluence to the democratic space we have,” Sifuna said. “Right now, Kenyans are safer in the hands of gangs than the police.” His remarks reflect a deepening mistrust in state security agencies, especially in the wake of extrajudicial killings and politically motivated arrests.
Gachagua: “Suspend DIG Langat – The Buck Stops With Him”
Former Deputy President and DCP party leader Rigathi Gachagua was equally forthright, dismissing the suspension of junior officers as “cosmetic.” He called for the immediate suspension of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Eliud Langat, whom he described as the originator of the operation that led to Ojwang’s arrest.
“The buck stops at the DIG’s office. He was the complainant, and the DCI officers acted on his instructions,” Gachagua asserted, demanding a full and transparent probe into the matter.
National Protests and Broken Promises
The incident has triggered protests across the country, with civil society groups and Gen Z activists demanding justice and accountability. Many argue that the death of Albert Ojwang signifies a betrayal of the ten-point agenda that formed the basis of the Raila-Ruto cooperation—an agreement which emphasized an end to extrajudicial killings, political persecution, and compensation for victims.
Leaders such as Hon. Millie Odhiambo and Dr. James Nyikal (MP, Seme) have echoed calls for justice, insisting that the ODM-UDA agreement must be revisited in light of the ongoing political repression.
As the nation mourns Albert Ojwang, a critical question remains: Can a government that once promised reform now be trusted to deliver justice?
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