When police officers arrived at his father’s compound in Kasipul Kabondo, Homa Bay County, on Saturday afternoon, the family of Albert Ojwang had no idea it would be the last time they would see him alive.
Less than 24 hours later, the 31-year-old teacher was dead, his body swollen, bruised, bloodied and reported as a suicide some 400 kilometres away from where he had been taken.
Family of Albert Ojwang suspects foul play in his death at police custody
Ojwang, a Kiswahili and Religious Studies teacher and a social media influencer, died in police custody just hours after his arrest over what has been described as a “derogatory” social media post about a senior police officer.
On that Saturday, the family had just said grace and were about to eat lunch when three motorbikes pulled into their compound. The riders had pillion passengers. Without much explanation, the group walked in and handcuffed Albert, his parents’ only child.
Ojwang, who lived and worked in Voi had just come home to run errands. An alumnus of Pwani University, he had a wife, a five-month-old baby and what appeared to be a promising future.
“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,” Ojwanga’s father Meshack Ojwang Opiyo, who viewed his son’s body at Nairobi Funeral Home, said tearfully.
A photo of Voi-based teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang.
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media Group
The police claim Ojwang died by suicide after hitting his head on the wall of his cell at Nairobi’s Central Police Station. After sustaining injuries, he was rushed to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival according to a statement by police National Police Service Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga.
When the family viewed Ojwang’s body, they saw a different story. His head was deformed, blood was oozing from his nose and there were scratches consistent with being dragged.
“There are a lot of inconsistencies in the police’s version of events. The police can’t even explain themselves consistently,” said family lawyer Julius Juma.
“Ojwang was kind. He was a Manchester United fan,” said Kevin Mboya, a close friend.
They had spoken just three minutes before the arrest and Ojwang was in a financial fix and had asked his friend Mboya to bail him out.
“Mzee, nipatie 500 niweke fuel,” read Ojwang’s final WhatsApp message, sent at 1:57 pm.
By 2pm, he had been handcuffed and his phone confiscated. That message marked the end of their conversation, forever.
Meshack Ojwang, father of Albert Ojwang, speaks to journalists outside Nairobi Funeral Home on June 8, 2025.
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media Group
The arrest, it is believed, was linked to a social media post that allegedly defamed a senior police officer. But his friends insist Ojwang did not make the post—he only had access to the account. They claim the post had already been taken down by the time he was arrested.
“NPS confirms that Albert Omondi 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. “
But when the family asked to see the cell where Ojwang allegedly died, they were denied access.
“By evening, we had still not been allowed in. Nobody was attending to us. The officers at the station said they didn’t have the authority to speak to us,” said lawyer Juma. “
Ojwang had never been arrested before and he was terrified according to friends. A friend he called said Ojwang even asked how the system works when you're in custody.
“If you’re in Central, you’ll be fine,” the friend had reassured him, in what turned out to be Ojwang’s final voice call. “We’ll come for you in the morning.”
Haki Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid (left) flanked by Meshack Ojwang, the father of Albert Ojwang, speaks to outside Nairobi Funeral Home on June 8, 2025.
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media Group
The Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo said what they had observed so far pointed to foul play.
“The stories that are being shared— we feel that they are lies and an attempt to cover up what really happened,” she said.
By Sunday morning, the deceased’s body had been transferred to the Nairobi Funeral Home—just five hours and 15 minutes after being booked at Central Police Station.
His father, who had since travelled from Homa Bay, was notified of his son’s death at 10am.
Commenting on the incident, Internal Security Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said investigations had begun.
“The matter is still in the very early stages of investigations. We urge the family to remain calm as we wait for more details,” PS Omollo said.
