MP Babu questions Ojwang’s death after 400km ordeal

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has voiced serious concerns over the mysterious death of 22-year-old Albert Ojwang while in police custody, adding to growing public outrage over police conduct and the unclear events leading to the young man’s passing.

In a pointed statement released on Monday, June 9, 2025, through social media platform X, Owino urged the National Police Service to take responsibility and called for a swift, impartial investigation into what he described as “a cruel and unjustifiable act.”

Babu Owino emphasized that the Kenyan Constitution and the country’s criminal justice system clearly outline legal procedures for handling offenses, none of which permit extrajudicial killings.

"No crime in Kenya warrants death outside the law, yet we continue to see this happening at the hands of state security agencies," he stated.

"The police are meant to protect citizens, not become a threat, especially to the youth."

Ojwang was apprehended on June 7, 2025, by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kakot, Homa Bay County.

He was then transported over 400 kilometers to Nairobi’s Central Police Station, where the circumstances of his death have sparked widespread concern.

Ojwang was discovered dead in his cell the following morning. Police claimed he had fatally injured himself by banging his head against a wall a statement that has been met with widespread skepticism from the public.

The official explanation has not only drawn public outrage but has also been challenged by prominent leaders, including MP Babu.

He has since directed five pointed questions to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, demanding answers, transparency, and accountability over what he described as a deeply troubling incident.

Here are the five key questions Babu posed regarding the death of the late Ojwang:

What was Ojwang’s crime?

"What specific publication did Albert Ojwang make, and what criminal offence did it amount to?" Babu Owino asked, suggesting the arrest may have stemmed from an online post.

Why the long transfer?

The Embakasi East legislator questioned the decision to move Ojwang over 400 kilometres from Homa Bay to Nairobi, despite the availability of local police stations and courts.

"Homa Bay has police stations and courts with competent jurisdiction. Why was it necessary to transport Albert Ojwang more than 400 km away from his home after arrest?" Babu posed.

What injuries led to his death?

Babu Owino demanded to know the exact nature of the alleged self-inflicted injuries and whether any fellow inmates witnessed the incident.

"What nature of injury did Albert Ojwang inflict on himself that led to his death? Are there fellow inmates who witnessed these self-inflicted injuries?"

Who will oversee the postmortem?

Stressing the need for transparency, Babu Owino called for the presence of an impartial pathologist during an independent autopsy to determine the actual cause of death.

"We want an impartial pathologist to witness an independent post-mortem procedure to reveal what manner of injuries caused the death of this young man," he wrote.

Who will investigate the officers?

Babu Owino further called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to launch an immediate and thorough investigation into the conduct of the DCI officers and the senior commanders at both Mawego and Nairobi Central Police Stations.

"In the meantime, we expect IPOA to swiftly initiate a comprehensive probe into the roles played by the DCI officers, as well as the OCPD and OCS of Mawego and Nairobi Central, in relation to the arrest and subsequent death of Albert Ojwang," he stated.

Babu Owino’s remarks have added momentum to the nationwide outcry demanding justice for Ojwang, a case that has deeply unsettled the public.

Human rights defenders and civil society groups have rallied online under the hashtag #JusticeForAlbertOjwang, intensifying pressure on authorities to provide answers and hold those responsible to account.