By Ruth sang
The death of Albert Ojwang, a young Kenyan man who died under suspicious circumstances in police custody, has ignited a firestorm of public outrage, spurred protests across Nairobi, and reignited demands for urgent police reform.
Ojwang was detained at Central Police Station following a controversial post on social media platform X. Days later, he was pronounced dead. The initial police report claimed he died from a self-inflicted injury. But a growing body of evidence, along with mounting public pressure, has cast deep doubt on the official narrative.
According to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), two witnesses from inside the Central Police Station reported hearing “loud screams” from Ojwang’s cell late at night, suggesting he was in significant distress before his death. Those chilling sounds, now circulating widely online, have become a grim symbol of alleged police abuse and the silence that often follows.
Rights activists, opposition leaders, and ordinary citizens have expressed disbelief and outrage.
“The guy sounded very sober, there's no way he injured himself,” one social media user wrote, echoing a chorus of skepticism.
The case took a dramatic turn on June 11 when President William Ruto publicly acknowledged that Ojwang died “at the hands of the police,” a stark reversal from earlier official claims that his death was accidental. An autopsy report cited head trauma, neck compression, and soft tissue injuries — all consistent with a violent assault, not suicide.
The IPOA has since named five police officers as persons of interest in its ongoing investigation. A formal inquiry has been launched, and Kenyans across the country are watching closely.
Public anger erupted into demonstrations on June 9, with protesters rallying near the Central Police Station. Police responded with tear gas, but demonstrators held their ground, chanting for justice and demanding an end to extrajudicial killings.
A joint statement from leading rights organizations, including Amnesty Kenya, demanded full accountability:
“The results of the IPOA report must be made public and any officers found responsible must be held fully accountable.”
Meanwhile, the emotional toll on Ojwang’s family is immeasurable. His father, Meshack Opiyo, spoke out in anguish:
“Why was he left alone in a cell, treated like a terrorist, simply for posting a tweet on X?”
His questions resonate across a country that has long grappled with incidents of police brutality, many of which have gone unresolved or ignored.
Police leadership has issued statements of apology, but for many Kenyans, words are not enough. The echoes of Ojwang’s final screams have become a rallying cry, amplifying longstanding demands for institutional reform, accountability, and an end to state-sanctioned violence.
As the IPOA investigation moves forward, the nation awaits more than answers—it awaits justice.
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