By Neville Oduor
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga issued a scathing statement condemning the death of Albert Ojwang, a young Kenyan teacher who died under suspicious circumstances in police custody.
The incident, which has sparked widespread outrage, has intensified calls for justice and accountability within Kenya’s police force.
Ojwang, a 31-year-old from Homa Bay, was arrested last Friday following a complaint by Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat.
The complaint stemmed from an alleged offensive social media post by Ojwang that criticized the senior officer. He was subsequently transferred over 350 kilometres to Nairobi’s Central Police Station.
Initial police reports claimed Ojwang sustained head injuries after hitting his head against a cell wall, but an autopsy conducted by five pathologists, led by Dr. Bernard Midia, revealed severe head injuries, neck compression, and multiple soft tissue injuries consistent with a brutal assault, contradicting the suicide narrative.
In his statement, Odinga expressed deep horror, noting, “I have been deeply horrified by reports of a young Kenyan, Albert Ojwang, who was picked from Homa Bay and driven to his death in police cells in Nairobi, over an alleged offensive social media post about a senior police officer.”
He further lamented the lack of transparency, stating, “So far, nobody knows who gave the orders for Mr. Ojwang to be arrested and ferried to Nairobi and yet that person should be answering to Kenyans.”
Odinga highlighted the broader implications, saying, “While these deaths cause tremendous pain to individuals and their families, they seriously erode the authority and credibility of the police and the state; and that is a significant step towards chaos and collapse.”
He demanded accountability, urging, “A speedy and credible closure to this latest incident of injustice in the hands of the police, alongside the many others that we have been pursuing since 2023, is not optional.”
Activists are now planning protests, with some pointing to Lagat as a key suspect, fueling a national debate on police brutality and justice.