NAIROBI, Kenya — Emotions are boiling over in Homa Bay County as the rural village of Mawego braces for the burial of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, whose death inside Nairobi’s Central Police Station has sparked national outrage.
Ojwang, who died in police custody on June 7 under suspicious circumstances, will be buried on July 4.
But as his body returned home, a crowd of angry mourners did more than just grieve — they burned down the Mawego Police Station, carried the casket into the charred compound, and dismantled everything from flagpoles to signage in a symbolic protest of state violence.
The violence began when a group of mourners — joined by students from a nearby polytechnic — commandeered the hearse and rerouted it straight to the Mawego Police Station.
Despite officers lobbing teargas canisters to disperse the swelling crowd, it was no use. The mob surged forward.
While no injuries were reported, officers said their nearby homes were looted, and police confirmed that the station’s armoury remained secure.
Security Chiefs Land in Mawego: “We Want the Truth”
The government is clearly rattled. A high-powered Regional Security Committee led by Nyanza Regional Commissioner Florence Mworia and Regional Police Commander Gisiri Nyamohanga touched down in Rachuonyo immediately after the arson.
The Commissioner ordered a thorough investigation into the burning of the station — but the bigger investigation remains the one into Ojwang’s death.
Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat stepped aside on June 16, citing the need for “independent investigations” into the matter.
Who Killed Albert Ojwang? Police Officers Among Six Charged
According to prosecutors, Ojwang was murdered between the night of June 7 and 8, 2025, inside the Nairobi Central Police Station. The accused? Three police officers and three civilians.
The suspects — Central Police OCS Samson Talaam, officers James Mukhwana and Peter Kimani, along with John Ginge Gitau, Gin Ammitou Abwao, and Brian Mwaniki Njue — have all been charged with murder. They appeared before Lady Justice Diana Kavedza and pleaded not guilty.
In a statement from the DPP, the prosecution strongly opposed bail, citing the gravity of the charges and potential interference with witnesses.
Talaam, the most senior of the group, was the station commander. Mukhwana was on daytime cell duty, and Kimani was the night sentry when Ojwang died.
As Kenya awaits justice, the burial of a teacher-turned-blogger has transformed into a flashpoint for nationwide demands on police accountability.
With Ojwang’s burial now just hours away, the village sits under heavy police deployment, and tension remains high. For many Kenyans, this isn’t just about one man’s death — it’s about a broken system.
And unless justice is served, the fire that razed a police station may only be the beginning.
