What was meant to be a solemn funeral service for slain teacher Albert Ojwang turned chaotic on Thursday, July 3, as enraged mourners set sections of Mawego Police Station ablaze in protest.
The day began with plans to hold a funeral ceremony at Nyawango Primary School in Homa Bay County, but the preparations quickly unraveled as emotions frayed among mourners.
A standoff ensued at the nearby trading centre for nearly two hours after groups of youths insisted the body of the late teacher must first be taken to Mawego Police Station, the site of his initial detention with the enraged youth demanding for accountability even as his parents pleaded for calm in vain
Despite the pleas of Ojwang’s father, Meshack Opiyo, who urged mourners to allow the body to be taken directly home for burial, the crowd would not relent.
“I tried to plead with them, but they would not listen,” Opiyo said.
The determined group eventually overpowered the efforts to maintain order and seized the casket.
They then marched approximately 3 kilometers to the Mawego Police Station, singing funeral dirges and chanting slogans in protest over Ojwang’s death under police custody.
Station vandalised
Upon reaching the police station, the crowd forced entry and vandalized key infrastructure.
According to police sources, critical investigation records were destroyed during the rampage, including the Occurrence Book (OB), written statements, and other official documents used in ongoing cases.
Moments later, the reporting office— the station’s administrative hub — was engulfed in flames.
Another structure, a permanent building housing police officers, was also targeted. Although the fire spread rapidly, some officers who arrived at the scene after the blaze had broken out managed to salvage personal belongings such as uniforms, electronics and furniture.
Homa Bay County Police Commander Lawrence Koilem confirmed the report office and the Officer Commanding Station (OCS’s) office were extensively damaged. He also noted that several items, including the station’s signpost, were stolen.
“They also broke into one of the staff houses and took some household items,” Koilem stated. “Luckily, there were no injuries reported among officers.”
Gather evidence
He further indicated that forensic experts from the regional crime scene investigation unit would visit the site to assess the extent of the damage and gather evidence.
In the wake of the violence, Mawego National Polytechnic President Ephraim Were issued a statement condemning the incident and distancing the institution’s students from the attack.
“Some students were at home and others were sitting for practical exams,” Mr. Were clarified. “A few who had initially joined the crowd withdrew before the police station was stormed.”
He added that prior intelligence had hinted at possible threats, with unidentified individuals reportedly overheard planning to return to the station and destroy it.
“Some men had been spotted earlier boasting that they would come back and burn the station,” Were said, calling for a swift investigation.
Albert, a 31-year-old teacher, was arrested on June 7 in Homa Bay and briefly detained at Mawego Police Station before being transferred to Central Police Station in Nairobi.
Widespread outrage
He died the following day under mysterious circumstances, prompting widespread outrage and legal questions over the legitimacy of his transfer.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) defended the move, claiming no court order was needed to move a suspect across jurisdictions. However, the incident has triggered national scrutiny, culminating in the Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat stepping aside amid public pressure.
During a requiem service held in Nairobi on July 2, family members described Ojwang as a humble, law-abiding individual. His mother, Eucabeth Adhiambo Ojwang, emotionally recalled how her son was trembling when officers came to arrest him—before he could even eat lunch.
“He told me he had done nothing wrong,” she said.
As investigations continue into the fire and the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death, pressure continues to mount on police leadership to deliver accountability and justice.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has handed over a newly built, fully furnished house to Albert’s father in Kokwanyo village, Homa Bay.
The new house replaces a crumbling structure that Albert had long hoped to replace.
The original house was a modest, timeworn structure with faded maroon paint clung to its rough-cast walls, rust had eaten through the iron sheets, and space was limited.
By People Daily