Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, Opiyo Wandayi, has called for calm amid growing public outrage over the death of Albert Omondi Ojwang, a popular X influencer, who died in custody at Central Police Station, Nairobi, on Sunday, June 8, 2025.
“I must extend my condolences to the family and friends of the gentleman, the young man, Albert Ojwang… I want to appreciate the fact that as we speak, we aren’t privy to all the details surrounding his untimely or unfortunate demise… I can say for now is to basically appeal for calm as we await these investigations to be completed,” Opiyo Wandayi said during a morning interview on a local TV on Monday, June 9, 2025.
The National Police Service (NPS) had earlier interdicted several officers to facilitate an independent investigation.
“The National Police Service (NPS) wishes to inform the public that, following the tragic death of Albert Ojwang while in police custody at Central Police Station, Nairobi, and to ensure a thorough, impartial, and expeditious investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the Inspector General of the National Police Service has ordered the interdiction of the following officers with immediate effect: The Officer Commanding Station (OCS), Central Police Station; The Duty Officer on duty during the night in question; The Cell Sentry on duty at the time; All officers who were on duty at the Report Office that night; Any other officer found to have been on duty or otherwise involved during the incident,” the NPS stated on Monday, June 9, 2025.
Ojwang’s arrest and mysterious death
Ojwang was arrested on Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Kakot, Homa Bay County, by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers. Transported to Nairobi’s Central Police Station, and later, he was later found dead the following morning.
The NPS initially claimed Ojwang sustained fatal head injuries by striking his head against the cell wall, a narrative met with scepticism. Officers rushed him to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Speaking to the media, CS Wandayi acknowledged the public’s anger but urged restraint.
“Until and unless you get to understand the circumstances first and foremost surrounding his arrest and how eventually he met his death, it’s going to be very difficult to comment,” he said.
The CS commended the police for suspending key officers and stressed that investigations are underway, with a preliminary statement already issued by the NPS.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), have demanded accountability.
Kenneth Mwenda
Kenneth Mwenda is a digital writer with over five years of experience. He graduated in February 2022 with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from The Co-operative University of Kenya. He has written news and feature stories for platforms such as Construction Review Online, Sports Brief, Briefly News, and Criptonizando. In 2023, he completed a course in Digital Investigation Techniques with AFP. He joined K24 Digital in May 2025. For inquiries, he can be reached at [email protected].
