HOMA BAY, Kenya, July 4, 2025— The burial of Albert Omondi Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher and blogger killed in police custody, is underway today at Nyawango Primary School in Kokwanyo village, Homa Bay County. The ceremony, marked by grief, anger, and demands for justice, follows a tumultuous procession that saw thousands of mourners, led by local youth and students, express their outrage over Ojwang’s death by setting Mawego Police Station ablaze on July 3, 2025.
Ojwang, a vocal critic of government policies and a digital content creator, was arrested on June 7, 2025, in his home village of Kakoth, Homa Bay, for allegedly defaming Deputy Inspector-General of Police Eliud Lagat on social media. He was transported over 350 km to Nairobi’s Central Police Station, where he died hours later on June 8. Initial police claims that Ojwang died from self-inflicted injuries were debunked by an autopsy, which revealed he succumbed to blunt force trauma, neck compression, and multiple injuries consistent with assault.
The burial follows a night vigil filled with emotion and tension, with many locals avoiding attendance due to fears of police retaliation after the violent protests. Notably, no police presence or notable politicians, including the area governor, were observed at the ceremony, a stark contrast to the heavy-handed police response during earlier protests in Nairobi.
On Thursday, July 3, Ojwang’s body arrived at Kisumu International Airport before being transported to Homa Bay. Thousands of mourners, including students from Mawego National Polytechnic, diverted the funeral procession to Mawego Police Station, where Ojwang was briefly detained before his transfer to Nairobi. In a dramatic act of defiance, the crowd stormed the station, vandalized critical documents, and set the building and nearby officers’ quarters on fire. Chanting “Justice for Albert” and “Stop killing us,” the mourners expressed their frustration with what they see as systemic police brutality and impunity.
Ojwang’s father, Meshack Opiyo, addressed the crowd, pleading for calm to allow the burial to proceed, but his calls were drowned out by chants demanding accountability. “The shedding of my only son’s innocent blood will never go unanswered,” Opiyo said, likening his son’s death to “Abel’s, born of jealousy and injustice.”
At the requiem mass today, emotions ran high as thousands gathered to honor Ojwang. His casket, draped with a Kenyan flag and a Manchester United flag—a nod to his passion for the football club—was the focal point of the ceremony. A portrait of Ojwang bore the message: “Forever in our hearts. Celebrating the life of Albert Ojwang.” Pwani University comrades delivered charged speeches, urging the government to end extrajudicial killings.
Ojwang’s widow, Nevnina Onyango, shared a heartbreaking account of their last conversation, when he called her from Central Police Station, assuring her, “I’ll see you soon.” She described seeing his body in the morgue, bearing signs of torture, and expressed her determination to seek justice.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is investigating Ojwang’s death, with six suspects, including three police officers—Samson Talam, James Mukhwana, and Peter Kimani—and three civilians, charged in connection with the murder. Deputy Inspector-General Lagat, who filed the initial complaint against Ojwang, has stepped aside pending the investigation but denies any wrongdoing. President William Ruto has condemned the killing as “heartbreaking and unacceptable,” promising a transparent probe, but public distrust in law enforcement remains high, with the Kenya Human Rights Commission reporting nearly 160 cases of extrajudicial killings last year.
The burning of Mawego Police Station and the absence of police at the burial underscore the deep rift between the community and law enforcement. As Homa Bay mourns, the clarion call for justice grows louder, with activists and residents vowing to continue their fight against police brutality. “Albert was a voice for the youth,” said Odhiambo Ojiro, a local activist. “His death is a symbol of resistance, and we will not stop until justice is served.”
Ojwang’s legacy as a teacher, blogger, and advocate for change lives on, with mourners celebrating his life through song, dance, and tributes. As the nation watches, his burial marks not just a farewell but a renewed commitment to accountability and reform in Kenya’s police service.
