Kenya: Mourners Seize Blogger’s Casket, Torch Police Station in Protest Over Death in Custody

Chaos erupted in Homa Bay County as mourners forcefully seized the casket of the late Albert Omondi Ojwang and marched it to Mawego Police Station in a dramatic protest against alleged police brutality.

The protest escalated further when the irate crowd set the station ablaze, accusing police officers of being responsible for Ojwang’s death in custody.

Ojwang, 31, a secondary school teacher and political blogger, was arrested on June 7 at his home in Kakoth village over alleged cyber harassment targeting Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat.

He was initially held at Mawego Police Station before being transferred to Central Police Station in Nairobi.

Days later, he was found unconscious in his cell and was pronounced dead soon after.

While police initially claimed Ojwang’ died by suicide, a post-mortem report contradicted that version of events, revealing blunt-force trauma to the head, neck compression, and extensive soft tissue injuries—findings consistent with assault.

His death has since ignited widespread outrage and sparked protests in Nairobi and western Kenya. Civil society groups and rights defenders have accused security agencies of extrajudicial killings and demanded urgent police reforms.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched a formal probe, and six police officers have been implicated.

One officer, Constable James Mukhwana, has been charged with murder, while investigators are also looking into allegations that CCTV footage from the cell was deleted or tampered with.

The drama unfolded on July 2 during Ojwang’s funeral service at Ridgeways Baptist Church in Nairobi.

A section of mourners, overcome with emotion and anger, interrupted the service and commandeered the casket.

They transported it more than 350 kilometres to Mawego Police Station in Homa Bay—where Ojwang’ was last seen alive in police custody.

The casket march was both “symbolic” and “defiant,” protest leaders said, aimed at returning the deceased to the site of alleged state violence.

Witnesses say the demonstration quickly grew in intensity. When police at Mawego tried to disperse the crowd, mourners resisted, prompting reinforcements to be called from Kendu Bay.

In the ensuing chaos, protestors set fire to the police station. Officers reportedly fled the premises before the building was torched.

The crowd, still carrying the casket, then staged further demonstrations in nearby villages, vowing not to bury Ojwang’ until justice is served.

"This is not just about Albert," said Judith Atieno, a local activist. "This is about the many young voices silenced by the police. We are tired of burying our own without answers."

Calls for justice have echoed from across the country. Amnesty International Kenya condemned the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death and called for "a transparent, independent, and timely investigation."

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights echoed the demand, warning that police brutality was undermining public trust in law enforcement.

As the protest movement swells, government officials have so far remained largely silent. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has yet to issue a formal statement, though sources say internal security meetings have been convened.

Ojwang’s family, meanwhile, remains in mourning and disbelief.

“We trusted the police to follow the law, not to kill him,” said Peter Ojwang’, the deceased’s brother. “Albert spoke his mind, but that should not be a death sentence.”

With the IPOA investigation still ongoing and a murder trial looming, the case of Albert Ojwang’ is likely to remain a national flashpoint in Kenya’s simmering debate over police accountability.