Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has issued a strong public statement holding the individual who ordered the arrest and transfer of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang responsible for his death while in police custody.
Taking to his official X account, Kaluma condemned the arrest and alleged torture of Ojwang, stating, “The person who instructed that Albert Ojwang be arrested and unprocedurally moved to Nairobi is the same person who ordered his torture and killing.” Kaluma demanded the arrest, prosecution, and jailing of the unnamed officer, insisting that “respect for human rights must be at the heart of policing in Kenya.”
Ojwang was arrested on June 6, 2025, at his rural home in Homa Bay on allegations of false publication. He was then transported over 300 kilometres to Nairobi and booked into the Central Police Station. According to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Ojwang was found unconscious in his cell on the night of June 8 and was rushed to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The death has sparked widespread outrage and calls for accountability, with both opposition and government figures speaking out.
Nominated MP Sabina Chege has called for a comprehensive review of police recruitment practices. In a televised interview, she raised concerns about the low educational qualifications required of recruits, arguing that a better-educated police force may help prevent such tragedies. “It is a sad day for Kenyans. Heads must roll,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has demanded urgent answers from the Ministry of Interior. In a Question by Private Notice filed in Parliament on June 9, Salasya directed a detailed nine-point inquiry to Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen. He questioned the justification for Ojwang’s transfer to Nairobi, the conditions of his detention, and the interrogation methods used.
Ojwang’s death has once again brought to the fore longstanding concerns about police brutality and abuse of power in Kenya, prompting renewed demands for accountability, reform, and the protection of human rights within the security sector.
