Homa Bay Residents Escort Albert Ojwang’s Body to Mawego Police Station, Burns Part of the Station

HOMA BAY, Kenya – Tensions reached a boiling point in Homa Bay County on Thursday afternoon as thousands of mourners, led by students from Mawego National Polytechnic, stormed the Mawego Police Station while carrying the coffin of slain blogger Albert Ojwang, setting parts of the facility ablaze in an unprecedented act of civil disobedience.

The dramatic protest unfolded shortly before noon when the funeral procession, which had traveled from Nairobi with Ojwang’s body, diverted to the police station where the deceased blogger was initially detained in early June before his fatal transfer to Central Police Station in Nairobi.

Albert Ojwang, a 26-year-old teacher and social media influencer, was arrested on June 6 at his home in Homa Bay County on charges of publishing false information on social media.

He was initially booked at Mawego Police Station before being transferred 400 kilometers to Nairobi’s Central Police Station, where he died in custody on June 8.

Police initially attributed Ojwang’s death to suicide, claiming he had sustained head injuries after hitting his head against the cell wall. However, an autopsy later revealed that his wounds were the result of assault, contradicting the official narrative and sparking nationwide outrage over police brutality.

The Funeral Procession Turns Violent

Witnesses described scenes of raw emotion as the mourners, predominantly young people, arrived at the police station chanting slogans and demanding justice for Ojwang. The crowd, estimated to be in the thousands, carried the blogger’s coffin while singing dirges and anti-police chants.

“They were demanding answers about why Albert was taken from here to die in Nairobi,” said one eyewitness who requested anonymity. “The youth were very angry and said the officers at this station were complicit in his death.”

The situation quickly escalated when protesters breached the station’s gates and began pelting the buildings with stones. Within minutes, parts of the facility were engulfed in flames, with furniture and police files reportedly destroyed in the blaze.

Police officers stationed at the facility were overwhelmed by the sheer number of protesters and were forced to flee the compound as the crowd overran the premises.

No casualties were reported from the incident, though the extent of property damage is still being assessed.

Ojwang’s death has become a rallying point for Kenyans frustrated with police brutality and extrajudicial killings.

The case has drawn comparisons to similar incidents that occurred during last year’s anti-tax protests, which resulted in multiple deaths and widespread allegations of excessive force by security personnel.

The blogger’s death prompted weeks of protests in Nairobi, with demonstrators calling for accountability and justice.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death. Several police officers who interacted with the blogger during his detention have been questioned and recorded statements with investigators.

In a significant development, authorities announced last week that six police officers, including Central Police Station Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Talaam, would be charged with murder in connection with Ojwang’s death.

Deputy Inspector General Eliud Langat, who was allegedly defamed by Ojwang in the social media post that led to his arrest, has stepped aside pending the outcome of the investigation.

The burning of Mawego Police Station marks an escalation in the public’s response to Ojwang’s death.

Civil society groups and opposition political leaders have called for thorough investigations and systemic reforms to address police brutality.

“This is the anger of a community that has lost faith in the justice system,” said a human rights activist who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“When people resort to such extreme measures, it shows that the normal channels of seeking justice have failed.”

The government faces mounting pressure to not only prosecute those responsible for Ojwang’s death but also to implement systemic changes that prevent similar tragedies in the future.