By Morara Beckham
Grief turned to fury in the heart of Nairobi on Thursday as hundreds of young protesters took to the streets demanding justice for Albert Omondi Ojwang, a teacher and outspoken blogger who died last week under mysterious circumstances while in police custody.
Thick clouds of tear gas mixed with smoke from burning tires and vehicles engulfed the Nairobi Central Business District as demonstrators blocked roads, waved placards, and chanted for justice. The rallying cry was simple but piercing:
“How long must we wait for justice?”
Ojwang, a 31-year-old English teacher from Homa Bay, was not widely known until his death. He ran a modest blog where he often posted critical commentary on government and police conduct. His arrest on June 6 for allegedly defaming Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat marked the beginning of a harrowing national outrage. He never returned home.
Police initially claimed that Ojwang had accidentally hit his head in a holding cell. But a delayed postmortem report revealed a far more disturbing truth: blunt force trauma to the head, broken ribs, and signs of strangulation. The injuries pointed not to accident, but to intentional violence.
President William Ruto made a rare and direct admission earlier this week, acknowledging that Ojwang had died "at the hands of the police." Yet despite this admission—and a pledge from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) that five officers had been identified—no arrests have been made.
“We’re tired of commissions and condolences,” said Lydia Wanjiru, 24, one of the protesters gathered outside Parliament. “We want action. We want accountability. Now.”
The protest was strategically timed to coincide with the presentation of the 2025/26 national budget by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi. As lawmakers discussed national spending inside Parliament, crowds outside chanted:
“No Justice, No Budget!”
What began as a peaceful demonstration quickly escalated. Police responded with aggressive force, firing tear gas and, according to unverified reports, live rounds. At least two vehicles were set ablaze, and several businesses closed amid the chaos. The scene bore chilling echoes of last year’s #RejectFinanceBill2024 protests—though this time, the catalyst was a life lost, not taxes raised.
Ojwang’s story has galvanized a new wave of activism among Kenya’s youth, highlighting long-standing issues of police brutality, delayed justice, and institutional impunity. For many, Ojwang has become more than a victim—he is now a symbol of a system that punishes dissent and shields perpetrators behind badges.
“Albert should be alive. He should be blogging. Teaching. Laughing with his students,” said one protester. “Instead, he’s a martyr for justice in a country that too often forgets its own.”
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