Tensions escalated in Homa Bay County on Thursday as enraged youths set fire to Mawego Police Station, the facility where slain teacher and blogger Albert Omondi Ojwang was initially detained following his arrest on June 7. The arson attack underscores the growing public outrage over Ojwang’s death in police custody, which has ignited nationwide protests and demands for justice.
Eyewitnesses reported that a group of demonstrators stormed the station, chanting slogans and accusing the police of complicity in Ojwang’s death. The building was engulfed in flames, and law enforcement officers were forced to flee the scene. No injuries have been reported so far.
Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher from Voi, was arrested in Kakot, Homa Bay County, allegedly over a social media post on platform X (formerly Twitter) that criticized Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat. He was briefly held at Mawego Police Station before being transferred to Nairobi’s Central Police Station, where he died the following day. Police initially claimed he sustained fatal injuries by hitting his head against a cell wall. However, an autopsy revealed severe head injuries, neck compression, and multiple soft tissue traumas, indicating he died from physical assault.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has since launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death. Several police officers have been suspended, and the case has drawn condemnation from human rights organizations and political leaders alike.
Thursday’s arson attack on Mawego Police Station marks a significant escalation in the public’s response to Ojwang’s death. It reflects the deep-seated frustration and mistrust between the community and law enforcement agencies. As the nation grapples with the implications of this tragedy, calls for comprehensive police reforms and accountability continue to intensify.
