Protests have erupted at the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) over the murder of Albert Ojwang’, a youthful teacher who was arrested and transported to Nairobi from Homa Bay and killed.
The protesters are calling for the arrest of the Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat, who was the complainant behind the arrest of Ojwang’ in connection with an offence of false publication.
Several roads within the CBD were occupied by the dozens of protesters, who marched the streets with minimal to no police intervention as they carried twigs and chanted in solidarity with the deceased, whose remains were moved from the Nairobi Funeral Home to Chiromo Mortuary, according to activist Hussein Khalid.
Calls for resignation
On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, calls for Lagat to resign rang high at the Senate when the plenary conducted an inquiry into the suspicious death of Ojwang at the hands of the police officers.
Both the Inspector General of Police and the director of the DCI, Mohammed Amin, revealed that Lagat had made a formal complaint about his name being tarnished and that investigations had led to the arrest of Ojwang at his rural home in Kabondo-Kasipul.
Appearing before the National Assembly committee on National Security on June 12, 2025, Kanja revealed that all those implicated in the investigations would be required to record a statement.
“Every person whose name will be mentioned to have played any role that led to the death of Albert Ojwang’ must record a statement; and it is on that basis that if the DIG is going to be mentioned, then he can be able to step aside to allow for the completion of that investigation,” Kanja said.
Dragging feet
While Amin indicated that they would be able to make major breakthroughs if it were up to them, he stated that the matter was within the mandate of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and that they were unable to intervene in the matter.
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Ojwang’s death was initially reported to have been a result of suicide before a team of government and private pathologists unanimously ruled out the police version.
Kanja subsequently apologised for the wrong information, even as senators pointed to a possible cover-up for the murder.
“Based on the report we have now received from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), it is not true that he hit his head against the wall. That was the initial report we were given from the beginning,” Kanja told senators.
“I tender my apology on behalf of the National Police Service for that misinformation.”
