“Justice for Albert”: The Blogger Who Died in Custody, and the Fire He Sparked
By VOCAL Africa Newsroom | June 11, 2025
Albert Ojwang was more than a blogger. He was a husband, a father to a five-month-old baby, a teacher by profession, and a fearless digital activist who believed in the power of truth.
But on Friday, June 6, 2025, Albert’s voice was silenced. Arrested in his hometown of Homa Bay on charges of “false publication” over a social media post about Deputy Police Chief Eliud Lagat, he was transported over 400 kilometers to Nairobi. Less than 48 hours later, he was found dead in a cell at Nairobi’s Central Police Station.
Police claimed Albert had “hit his head against the cell wall” and died from his injuries. But his family and fellow activists say otherwise. They say he was tortured. They say he was silenced for speaking out. They say Albert was murdered and we can confirm he was.
Albert’s case is not isolated. It echoes the tragic deaths of dozens during last year’s Finance Bill Protests, where police killed at least 19 demonstrators. It reminds us of the Gen Z protesters gunned down for simply demanding a better future. It brings back memories of enforced disappearances, of the mothers and fathers left with questions—and no answers.
Albert now joins a painful list of victims who died in the hands of the very forces meant to protect them. His crime? Criticizing authority. Exercising freedom of expression—guaranteed under Kenya’s Constitution and international human rights law.
📍 Timeline of Events
- Friday, June 6: Albert is arrested at his home in Homa Bay by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
- Friday evening: He is moved—without the presence of his lawyer—to Nairobi, more than 400 kilometers away.
- Sunday, June 8: Nairobi police announce that Albert has died in custody. They claim he fatally hit his head against a wall.
- Monday, June 9: Peaceful protesters marching to Central Police Station are met with tear gas—twice.
- Same day: The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) announces an investigation and suspends officers involved.
💬 His Family Speaks
“We were told he died by accident. But when we saw the body—there were bruises, wounds, signs of abuse,” said Albert’s brother. “He did not fall. He was beaten.”
His wife, now widowed and raising their child alone, called for justice:
“I want answers. I want the world to know Albert did nothing wrong. He only wrote the truth.”
📢 The Uprising
Within hours of Albert’s death being announced, protests were organized across Nairobi and online under the hashtags #JusticeForAlbert and #StopPoliceMurders.
VOCAL Africa joined hands with other human rights defenders to demand:
- An independent autopsy conducted by a trusted pathologist.
- Full disclosure of CCTV footage from the police station.
- Immediate arrest and prosecution of the officers responsible.
- Structural reform of the National Police Service.
🛡️ What VOCAL Africa Is Doing
As a frontline defender of human rights, VOCAL Africa is:
- Providing legal support to the Ojwang family.
- Collaborating with IPOA to ensure a transparent and independent investigation.
- Mobilizing civic awareness.
- Documenting this case for submission to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
- Coordinating with media to spotlight Albert’s story and the wider crisis of police impunity in Kenya.
We stood with the families of those killed in the Gen Z protests. We are standing with Albert’s family now.
