Those were the final words Albert Omondi Ojwang’s family heard from a police officer at Mawego Police Station in Rachuonyo North last Saturday, moments after his arrest.
Less than 24 hours later, the 31-year-old teacher was dead, his body swollen, bruised, bloodied and reported as a suicide in Nairobi, some 320 kilometres away from his home.
Albert Ojwang' family says police assured safety before his death
The officer, one of six who had taken Mr Ojwang into custody sought to reassure the family, and was even convinced he would be charged in court and released. The family left the station in hope.
But that hope turned to grief when news arrived that the Kiswahili and Religious Studies teacher had died in police custody in Nairobi.
The Nation visited the deceased’s home and confirmed that at around 1.30pm on June 7, six men arrived at the home of Ojwang’s father in Kakoth Village, Kokwanyo Location, riding on three motorcycles. They identified themselves as police officers.
“Two of them came through the back fence and the third used the front gate. The rest surrounded the homestead like they were laying an ambush,” said Mr Herman Opiyo, Ojwang’s uncle.
Ojwang, an alumnus of Pwani University in Kilifi County, had not joined the rest of the family yet, as he was supervising construction at his house.
That morning, he had bought seedlings, tended to his vegetable nursery and was preparing to plant. But just before the arrest, he returned home. His wife Nevina Onyango was about to serve him lunch when the officers moved in.
“We invited them to come in but they declined. They said they were working and had come for Ojwang,” Mr Opiyo said.
The officers told the family he was wanted over a social media post on X, which allegedly accused a senior police officer of corruption.
Ojwang was then handcuffed and placed on a motorcycle between two officers for the short ride to the nearby Mawego Police Station.
A signpost of Mawego Police Station where Albert Ojwang was briefly held before being transferred to Nairobi.
Photo credit: George Odiwour | Nation Media Group
His family followed, unaware he would soon be transported to Nairobi. His phone was seized during the arrest according to Mr Opiyo.
At the station, officers presented the teacher with a two-page document to sign. He complied, appending his name and ID number but the family was not allowed to read the document and there was no formal confirmation that he had been booked.
Later, Mr Opiyo was sent home to fetch a sweater for his nephew saying “one officer said Nairobi was cold and Ojwang would need it,” he said.
The same six officers loaded Mr Omondi into a dark vehicle with private registration and as they left, they assured the family that their son was in good hands.
That evening, Ojwang’s father-Meshack Opiyo, boarded a bus to Nairobi but before he arrived, the family received the devastating news that he was dead.
“He was bleeding from the nose and had a bruised torso and face. He was also shirtless but this is not how I handed him over to the police on Saturday. My son died like an animal,”said Mr Opiyo after viewing his son’s body at Nairobi Funeral Home.
Ojwang , 27, was an only child. He graduated from Pwani University in 2022 and was registered with the Teachers Service Commission. He taught as a teacher hired by the board at a school in Voi as he awaited official posting by TSC. In April, he returned home to engage in part-time farming.
“I struggled to educate him so he could lift this family. Now he is gone, said his mother Eucabeth Adhiambo on Monday.
Ms Eucabeth Adhiambo Ojwang (centre), Albert Ojwang’s mother, is consoled by relatives at her home in Kokoth village, Homa Bay County on June 9, 2025.
Photo credit: George Odiwour | Nation Media Group
“We never opposed the claim that he made allegations against an official. All we wanted was due process. He should not have been killed,” Mr Omumu said.
The family said only two of the officers identified themselves and insist their son had no health issues or history of mental illness, elements police have alluded to in early reports.
The police claim Ojwang died by suicide after hitting his head on the wall of his cell at Nairobi’s Central Police Station.
Central Police Station in Nairobi where Albert Ojwang is reported to have died.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
After sustaining injuries, he was rushed to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival according to a statement by National Police Service (NPS) Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga.
“NPS confirms that Ojwang was lawfully arrested by DCI detectives for false publication. While in custody, the suspect sustained head injuries after hitting his head against the cell wall,” said Mr Nyaga.
The family is calling on Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo to intervene and ensure justice is served.
