As Albert Ojwang left the Mawego Police Station on June 7, 2025, his father Meshack Ojwang had no doubts his only son was in safe hands.
From his first encounter with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers earlier that day, the officer sounded professional while the old man and his late son diligently followed their orders.
Two of the officers had gone the extra mile and offered the family their phone numbers as an assurance that their son was in safe hands.
Not once, however, did Mr Ojwang think that this was the last time he was seeing his son alive.
In an unexpected turn of events, however, Ojwang would learn of his son’s death the following day in the hands of the people he had thought would protect him.
Ojwang, a teacher, died on June 8 while under detention in police custody.
The family whose trust has been broken has now revealed that none of the officers have reached out since the incident.
“None of the officers have reached out to condole with my family after my son’s death,” Mr Ojwang told NTV’s Fixing The Nation show, dismissing rumours that he met with a team of police officers at his home.
Mr Ojwang has further dismissed rumors that he met with police officers at his home on Thursday evening, saying he is still in Nairobi.
On the day of his arrest, six officers had made their way into the humble compound of Mr Ojwang at Kakoth Village, Homa Bay County.
The officers had travelled on a motorcycle. Four of the officers approached his compound from behind the house while the remaining two made their way through the main entrance.
Mr Ojwang, who was having a meal with his younger brother, hurriedly left the house, ready to welcome the intruders.
“As I stepped out, the visitors had already surrounded my son. I, however, went ahead to introduce myself and one of the six men pulled me aside,” recalls Mr Ojwang.
The father of Ojwang says he was able to identify two police officers attached to Mawego Police Station.
Even before the individuals could identify themselves, Mr Ojwang knew they were police officers.
The individual went ahead to introduce himself as a DCI officer from Nairobi and even showed Mr Ojwang his job tag.
“He said that they had been sent from their Nairobi office to arrest my son, who had insulted their ‘boss’,” says Mr Ojwang.
A photo of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody.
Photo credit: Pool
Meanwhile, the teacher who was preparing to have a midday meal with his mother and wife was already handcuffed.
Two of the officers had gone ahead to share their phone contacts with the family, and the numbers were tried and they went through.
“I asked the officers who the ‘boss’ my son had insulted and how he insulted him or her, but they asked me to follow them to Mawego Police station if I needed answers,” said Mr Ojwang.
He adds, “All this time, there had not been any altercation between us. We were all speaking the same language and as a noble citizen, I allowed them to exercise their security duty,” he says.
Albert’s father had also immediately boarded his motorcycle alongside his younger brother while Albert's wife and mother followed them on foot.
From left: The late Albert Ojwang's father Meshack Opiyo, his mother Eucabeth Adhiambo Ojwang, and his widow Nevinina Onyango Omondi when they visited the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) offices in Nairobi on June 13, 2025.
Photo credit: Evans Habil | Nation Media Group
When Mr Ojwang arrived at the police station, Albert was being interrogated in English and Dholuo languages at the office of the officer Commanding Station (OCS)
They later announced that Albert would not get his phone back, but asked him to sign a piece of paper together with his wife.
The signature, according to the officers, would be used to claim his phone when freed.
“I heard the officers announce that my son had to be transferred to Nairobi, and yet again, I did not bar them since there was no cause for alarm,” said Mr Ojwang.
He added, “My son had been interrogated in the office of the OCS, who identified the officers who carried out his arrest, I knew he was in safe hands,”.
Central Police OCS Samson Talam in court over Albert Ojwang death
Just like Mr Ojwang, Jonah Kariuki had never imagined that his only son would be shot by the police in his quest for a living.
His firstborn son, Bonface Kariuki, was shot at close range in the head while hawking a mask amid demonstrations demanding justice following Albert's death.
Boniface is currently fighting for his life at the Kenyatta National Hospital, even as his family says he is in a critical condition.
Medical status of Boniface Kariuki who was shot during the Nairobi CBD protests
During an interview, his father revealed that while he had heard about a man who had been shot by police, he only came to learn that the survivor was his son on Tuesday, around 8 pm.
Just like his son, Mr Kariuki, also a hawker, says he was also selling face masks on the day of the incident.
“As a hawker, I have had my fair challenges with the county askaris who are not in support of hawking in the streets. I have been arrested on several occasions, but I have never imagined my son would be shot while at work,” said Mr Kariuki.
The father of five says after the incident, he was invited to record a statement by the area OCS.
Since then, Mr Kariuki has yet to receive any call or support from the County Government of Nairobi or police officers.
Mr Kariuki also says he is yet to be invited by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to record any statement.
Jonah Kariuki, the father of Boniface Kariuki, who was shot at close range by a policeman, speaks to journalists at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Photo credit: Boniface Bogita| Nation
Mr Ojwang, who says his son was murdered despite not having committed any crime, should be remembered as a hero.
According to Mr Ojwang, Albert did not commit any crime and had not in any way done anything to prevent his arrest.
“I heard that the crime my son committed was to speak against corruption, a matter that not only affects Kenya but is a global concern. I would like him to be remembered as a hero for fighting not for himself but for the country,” he says.
