Image: Albert Ojwang, a popular X influencer who died under unclear circumstances in police custody.
Albert Ojwang, a well-known influencer on social platform X (formerly Twitter), has died under mysterious circumstances while in police custody, sparking nationwide outrage.
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Arrest and Detention in Migori
According to social media reports shared by blogger Cyprian Nyakundi, Ojwang was arrested in Migori County on the afternoon of Saturday, June 7, by officers suspected to be from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Family sources revealed that he was detained over controversial posts made on the platform. He was later transferred to Central Police Station in Nairobi.
Family Alleges Lack of Proper Records
Shockingly, relatives and close friends claim that Ojwang’s name was never recorded in the Occurrence Book (OB), which is a standard police procedure after an arrest. By Sunday morning, news of his death broke, leaving more questions than answers.
Police Say Ojwang Injured Himself in Custody
Police reportedly told the family that Albert had “injured himself” during the night and was rushed to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The explanation has done little to quell public anger, with Kenyans on X demanding accountability.
“How did Albert Ojwang, who was alive when police took him, end up dead? We need a proper explanation,” one user wrote. Others have pointed to a disturbing trend of Kenyans dying after being arrested or abducted by authorities.
Related Arrests Spark Broader Concerns
Ojwang’s death comes just days after the controversial arrest of Rose Njeri, a software developer accused of interfering with parliamentary email systems. She was charged on May 30, 2025, for creating a program that automatically sent emails to the Finance Committee’s official address.
“You knowingly made a program hosted at https://civicemail.netlify.app/ that automatically generated and sent mass emails to Financecommitteena@parliament.go.ke,” part of her charge sheet read.
Njeri’s arrest has triggered backlash from civil society, with activists and opposition politicians accusing the government of using the law to suppress digital dissent.
A Call for Transparency and Justice
Albert Ojwang’s untimely death has become a flashpoint in the broader conversation around freedom of expression, digital rights, and accountability in law enforcement in Kenya.
As public pressure mounts, Kenyans are calling for an independent investigation into both cases and the urgent implementation of reforms to protect online freedoms and prevent police abuse.
