MAWEGO, Homa Bay — In a defiant act of protest and grief, mourners attending the burial of slain teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang on Thursday forced a police convoy to turn back, rejecting state presence at the emotionally charged send-off.
A video seen by Y News shows villagers cheering loudly as a police Land Rover drives away from the burial grounds, with some in the crowd shouting.
“Not Welcome Here”: Police Repelled by Grieving Community
Anticipating unrest, the government had deployed heavy police presence in the region following the recent torching of Mawego Police Station, which mourners blamed on pent-up anger over the alleged police killing.
But on this day, the people made it clear — police officers would not be allowed near the funeral site.
Rather than risk further confrontation, the officers turned back, a move that drew cheers from a crowd still reeling from the loss of the young teacher and blogger.
The Death That Sparked a County-Wide Uprising.
Ojwang, who was also a teacher at a school in Voi, died in Custody at Nairobi Central Police Station on the night of June 7, 2025. His death triggered a national uproar, culminating in the arrest and charging of six individuals, including three police officers.
The accused — among them Central OCS Samson Talaam, officers James Mukhwana and Peter Kimani — are facing murder charges and have denied wrongdoing. The remaining three suspects are civilians alleged to have had access to the cells that night.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) strongly opposed bail for all six, citing the seriousness of the case and potential witness interference.
Grief Turns Into Resistance
The burial had already drawn a heavy security response after mourners earlier torched Mawego Police Station, carried Ojwang’s casket through the burnt compound, and pulled down its flag and signage.
IPOA and Nyanza security chiefs rushed to the area in an attempt to calm tensions — but Thursday’s incident showed that grief, in this case, had morphed into determined resistance.
With his burial ongoing, the conversation about accountability has never been louder as mourners and citizens demand justice.
