Nairobi, Kenya – Former Prime Minister and ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga has broken his silence on the controversial death of Albert Ojwang, a teacher and social media influencer, who died in police custody on June 8, 2025.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Tuesday, June 10, Raila expressed deep concern over what he called a “disturbing trend” of young Kenyans dying under unclear circumstances while in the hands of law enforcement.
“When citizens can no longer tell the difference between police injustice and mob injustice, we are staring at the reality of failure as a nation,” Raila said.
He described Ojwang’s death as a tragedy that demands immediate answers, insisting that a speedy and credible investigation is not optional but a national obligation.
Mounting Pressure for Police Accountability
Ojwang, a respected online commentator and trained teacher, was arrested in Homa Bay and later found dead in a cell at Central Police Station, Nairobi, just hours after being booked.
The National Police Service had initially floated a theory suggesting self-harm, but Tuesday's autopsy results firmly rejected that claim.
According to the pathologists, Ojwang died from:
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Head injuries
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Neck compression
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Multiple soft tissue trauma
The autopsy conclusively ruled out self-inflicted wounds, pointing instead to external force.
Specimens collected during the post-mortem have been submitted for further forensic analysis to corroborate the findings.
A Unified Political Outcry
Raila is the latest in a string of national leaders demanding accountability:
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Oscar Sudi, MP for Kapseret and an outspoken Kenya Kwanza loyalist, said the news left him “speechless.”
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Justin Muturi, former Attorney General and Cabinet Secretary, called for immediate arrests, saying “the chain of command must answer for this.”
The bipartisan outrage underscores the gravity of the case and the crisis of trust in Kenya’s law enforcement institutions.
What Happens Next?
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has confirmed an open investigation is underway, and human rights groups—including Amnesty Kenya and VOCAL Africa—have vowed to monitor the case closely.
Civil society remains adamant that Ojwang’s death must not be swept under the rug, warning that failure to act could deepen public mistrust and provoke wider protests.
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