Raila Odinga Breaks Silence on Albert Ojwang’s Death in Police Custody
The death of Kenyan influencer and teacher Albert Ojwang, who died under mysterious circumstances while in police custody, continues to ignite public outrage and calls for justice. Now, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has joined the national conversation, strongly condemning the incident and demanding accountability from the National Police Service.
In a statement issued on Monday, Raila said he was “deeply horrified” by the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s arrest and death. He questioned why the young man was “picked from Homa Bay and driven to his death in police cells in Nairobi” over what has been described as an offensive social media post targeting Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat.
“So far, nobody knows who gave the orders for Mr. Ojwang to be arrested and ferried all the way to Nairobi—and yet that person should be answering to Kenyans,” Raila said.
The opposition leader added that Ojwang now joins a “horrifying long list of young and defenseless Kenyans whose lives have been taken too soon, in brutal and senseless circumstances, at the hands of the police.”
Raila warned that the ongoing trend of police abuse and extra-judicial killings is eroding public trust in law enforcement and pushing Kenya toward chaos. He urged the police service to reflect on the consequences of unchecked brutality and emphasized the need for urgent reforms.
“When citizens can no longer tell the difference between the two forms of injustice—police injustice and mob injustice—we are staring at the reality of failure as a nation,” he said.
Raila Odinga called for speedy and transparent investigations into Ojwang’s death and urged the police to hold those responsible accountable. He said that justice for Ojwang—and for other victims of police misconduct—is not optional.
“The National Police Service must commit to and take concrete actions to hold their own accountable, beginning with this senseless death of Albert Ojwang.”
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has already launched a probe into the matter. IPOA chair Ahmed Issack Hassan visited the Central Police Station in Nairobi, where Ojwang was held, and pledged a full investigation into the circumstances leading to his death.
Meanwhile, public demonstrations and online campaigns demanding #JusticeForOjwang are growing, with civil society groups, human rights defenders, and political leaders urging the government to act swiftly.
