Meshack Ojwang with Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga when she visited his home on June 16, 2025/GLADYS WANGA
President William Ruto has expressed his condolences to the family of the late teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang and donated Sh2 million to his father, Meshack Ojwang, to support burial arrangements and other immediate needs.
The President made the gesture during a phone call with Ojwang’s father, days after the 31-year-old died while in police custody at Nairobi Central Police Station.
On Monday, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga visited the grieving family in Kokwanyo, a day after Meshack Ojwang returned from Nairobi.
Speaking during the visit, Governor Wanga pledged to construct a two-bedroom house for the family, valued at Sh1.5 million. She said the house would be completed within two and a half weeks—before the burial.
Meshack Ojwang in conversation with Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga when she visited his home on June 16, 2025/GLADYS WANGA
The governor further disclosed that electricity would be connected to the family home by June 17, courtesy of the Homa Bay County Government.
Additionally, the county plans to set up a water point to serve the family and the surrounding community.
Albert Ojwang’s death has sparked national outrage.
He was arrested in Homa Bay, where he had gone to visit his parents, and later transferred to Nairobi by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). He died in custody under unclear circumstances.
Public anger has continued to build, with widespread protests and demands for accountability.
Meshack Ojwang in conversation with Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga when she visited his home on June 16, 2025/GLADYS WANGA
Earlier today, authorities arrested three civilians in Nairobi believed to have played a role in Ojwang’s death.
The suspects were reportedly inmates at the Central Police Station and are alleged to have been recruited by police to beat Ojwang in custody in an attempt to extract information.
Also today, Monday June 16, Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat stepped aside pending investigations into the death of Albert Ojwang.
In a statement, Lagat said the move was in “good and conscious thought” of his role and responsibilities.
He cited the ongoing investigations into Ojwang’s death as the reason for temporarily vacating office.
“I have today opted to step aside... pending completion of investigations,” he stated.
Lagat added that his deputy will perform the office’s functions until the investigations conclude.
Inspector General (IG) Douglas Kanja told senators on June 11 that the probe started when online posts claimed DIG Lagat was involved in corruption within the National Police Service (NPS).
Kanja said the process of investigating Albert Ojwang' began on June 4, 2025, when Lagat filed a formal complaint with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The complaint concerned a series of posts on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) accusing Langat of corrupt activities within the National Police Service.
The case was filed under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act, and a team of five officers was assigned to investigate.
On the same day, Senior Superintendent Hillary Mutai, who heads the Serious Crimes Unit, recorded Lagat’s statement at Vigilance House.
The investigators also wrote to the EACC to verify the claims made in the social media posts and reached out to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) to request registration details and preservation of content from the X account in question.
CAK responded, confirming the account was active and had approximately 13,400 followers.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing as pressure mounts on authorities to deliver justice for Ojwang and his family.
