Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament George Peter Kaluma has condemned planned protests over the death of Albert Ojwang, who was murdered in detention hours after being arrested by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers.
Kaluma has called upon Kenyans to reflect on a broader history of unresolved extrajudicial killings, particularly in the Nyanza region.
In a statement on X on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, Kaluma criticised what he termed “crocodile tears” from protestors and political actors mourning Ojwang.
He accused them of selective outrage, saying the country has never fully mourned or sought justice for victims of past atrocities, including the 1969 Kisumu massacre and assassinations of key national figures.
“Before you go to the streets pretending to mourn our son Albert Ojwang,” Kaluma wrote, “please mourn the 1969 Nyanza Massacre victims, Tom Mboya, CMG Argwings Kodhek, Pio Gama Pinto, JM Kariuki, Robert Ouko, George Saitoti, Orwa Ojode, Odhiambo Mbai, Chris Musando, Jacob Juma, Charles Ongondo Were, the 2007-2008 PEV victims, the 2017 Fresh Election victims, and our sons you pulled out and killed from their Nyalenda and Nyamasaria houses in the night during the 2023 cost-of-living protests!”
Further, Kaluma stated that mourning should not be politicised and accused demonstrators of using the tragedy for personal or political gain.
“We will not join you in your street nonsense. You will not teach us how to mourn our own. We are busy rebuilding after years of marginalisation, discrimination and neglect. Keep your crocodile tears to yourselves,” he added.
Protesters are expected to take to the streets in Nairobi on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, amid growing public fury over Ojwang’s death.
Ojwang’s murder
Ojwang’s murder has reignited nationwide outrage over police brutality and renewed calls for deep-rooted reforms and accountability in the security sector, particularly as Kenya enters another politically sensitive period.
Ojwang was arrested in Homa Bay County on June 6, 2025, over defamation of Deputy Inspector-General of Police Eliud Lagat. He was transported more than 350 kilometres to Nairobi’s Central Police Station, where he was found dead.
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On Monday, June 16, 2025, pressure mounted on DIG Lagat, whose complaint led to the arrest, as civil society leaders, lawyers, and political figures dismissed his stepping aside as cosmetic and demanded his immediate arrest and prosecution.
Lagat eventually stepped aside, paving the way for impartial investigations into the matter.
Police initially claimed Ojwang died after hitting his head on a cell wall. However, a postmortem report contradicted that version, revealing blunt force trauma to the head, neck compression, and multiple soft tissue injuries, findings consistent with torture and physical assault.
So far, two senior police officers, including the Central Police Station OCS, a police constable, and a civilian CCTV technician, have been arrested and are under investigation.
