Former Kandara parliamentary candidate and outspoken government critic Gatehi Rebiro has strongly condemned the death of blogger Albert Ojwang while in police custody at Central Police Station, calling it “a deliberate act of state brutality” and “a stark symptom of Kenya’s collapsing democratic order.”
Ojwang, known for his bold digital criticism of the regime and, in particular, his alleged “false publication” about the Deputy Inspector General of Police, died under suspicious circumstances after his prolonged arrest. His constitutional rights were gravely violated. He was not booked at his local station; instead, he was transported across jurisdictions to Nairobi — bypassing several police stations without a clear explanation. His solitary confinement and sudden death raise serious concerns about extra-judicial conduct and official misconduct.
Even more troubling are reports that CCTV footage from Central Police Station has been tampered with, casting serious doubt on police narratives and suggesting a deliberate cover-up.
Rebiro expressed deep dismay at the state’s response:
“I was saddened by the discombobulated spokesmen who issued unfounded, vague statements, devoid of detail or truth — at a time when the country is collectively grappling with a massive trust deficit in the government of the day,” he said. “This is not just incompetence, but also a mockery of accountability, a lack of clarity, and a tragic failure of government communication — not uncommon in this administration — all while Kenya is drowning in a miasma of deceit and despondency.”
He warned that Kenya’s democracy is being hijacked by a hegemonic network of impunity, driven by state operatives, political actors and rogue security officers, who are actively arm-twisting constitutional frameworks, sabotaging democracy and eroding institutional independence.
Ojwang’s death, Rebiro emphasised, is not an isolated case. Many similar deaths have occurred in police custody before victims even reach a court of law. It reflects a broader culture of abductions, arbitrary arrests, detentions, and a pattern of extra-judicial killings increasingly used to silence government critics.
“The officers on duty — up the chain of command to their superiors and those who issued or enabled these orders — must be held criminally liable,” Rebiro stated. “This is not only about justice for Albert only but also justice for other victims who never made it into the spotlight. One life lost is too many. This is about protecting the soul of our republic.”
He concluded with a clarion call to action, citing his own high-profile legal battle against the Finance Act and his personal experience as a victim of state oppression:
“Kenyans must rise. We cannot afford silence. We are being governed through fear — and every voice silenced today is a freedom lost tomorrow.”
As the government offers a veneer of accountability, justice remains shrouded in mystery and compromised. Ironically, some of the very state officers who are persons of interest in this case sit on the same panels tasked with delivering justice — a glaring conflict that guarantees none.
Amid growing outrage, legal groups, civil society organizations and opposition leaders demand an independent investigation, calling this a defining moment in Kenya’s struggle against impunity and authoritarianism.
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