KENYA: Homa Bay Police Station Set Ablaze As Protesters Demand Justice For Albert Ojwang Ahead Of Burial

By Lisbeth Micheni, Kenya 

Tension gripped Homa Bay County on Wednesday as enraged mourners and protesters stormed and set ablaze Mawego Police Station in a dramatic protest demanding justice for the late Albert Ojwang.

The incident occurred as Ojwang’s body arrived in his hometown ahead of his burial, set for Thursday, July 4, 2025.

According to Luo culture, the body of the deceased must arrive home a day before burial for a traditional overnight vigil and final celebrations.

As Ojwang’s coffin was transported from Nairobi to Homa Bay, mourners joined forces with demonstrators and made their way to the police station, accusing authorities of having a hand in his death.

Albert Ojwang, a 27-year-old man from Homa Bay, was arrested on June 26, 2025, after allegedly defaming Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat in a post on X.

He was later transferred to Central Police Station in Nairobi. It was at Central Police Station that Ojwang died under mysterious circumstances while in custody.

His body was later discovered at the City Mortuary on June 29, sparking national outrage.

The family and several human rights organisations have condemned the incident, demanding an independent investigation and accusing the police of torture and extrajudicial killing. “We will not rest until we get justice for Albert,” said Meshack Ojwang, Albert’s father, during an emotional requiem mass in Nairobi on June 2, 2025.

In Homa Bay, the protest quickly escalated as demonstrators carried Ojwang’s coffin to Mawego Police Station.

The crowd, overwhelmed with grief and fury, set fire to the building while chanting slogans against police brutality.

Images circulating online showed thick smoke rising from the burning structure as officers watched from a distance, unable to control the mob.

George T. Diano, an online Activist stirred further controversy by suggesting that the protest was “another attempt by Kikuyu supremacists to overthrow Ruto’s government,” a post that drew heavy criticism for stoking ethnic tensions in an already volatile environment.

As Albert Ojwang is laid to rest on July 4 2025, the country remains on edge. The incident has become a flashpoint in the wider national debate over state repression, online freedom, and police accountability.

Civil society groups continue to call for transparency, prosecution of those responsible, and a complete overhaul of the country’s policing system.