LSK: We oppose any proposition that Ojwang’s death was an accident
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has issued a fierce demand for accountability from the National Police Service over the death of blogger Albert Ojwang, who died in custody after his arrest.
In a scathing statement on Monday, June 9, 2025, LSK rejected any suggestion that Ojwang’s death was accidental.
“We oppose any proposition that his death was an accident or that it can’t be justified,” the society stated.
They also insist his death was no accident, pointing to “ill will, bad faith, and malice” in his arrest and transfer to Nairobi’s Central Police Station.
LSK argued that Ojwang’s ordeal, sparked by a complaint from Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat over reputational harm, reveals a “criminal conspiracy” that must be thoroughly investigated.
“The entire predicament encountered by Ojwang prior to his death is consistent with a criminal conspiracy which must be fully investigated and prosecuted,” the statement read.
The society questioned why Ojwang was handled with “such animosity” and demanded that the police explain their actions. The LSK also challenged the Inspector General’s decision to interdict unnamed officers, calling it insufficient.
“Why hasn’t he named the particular officers that have been interdicted? What is the need of hiding?” they asked, urging transparency about those involved, including officers who transferred Ojwang from Homa Bay.
Systemic failures and reform demands
LSK further demanded that DIG Lagat recuse himself from the investigation due to his role as the complainant, citing a clear conflict of interest. Highlighting systemic issues, LSK labelled Central Police Station a “poster boy for police brutality” and flagged Kamukunji Police Station as another notorious hub for detainee mistreatment.
“This cannot be wished away as an isolated incident,” they stated, pointing to “deep-past systematic weaknesses” in the police service.
The society called for urgent reforms, inviting the public to report abusive stations to drive an overhaul of failing systems. LSK praised the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) but urged it to act swiftly and keep Kenyans informed. They also demanded that the police cooperate fully with IPOA’s probe, warning against any interference.
“Albert Ojwang must not be another statistic,” LSK declared, framing his death as a catalyst for a “necessary and overdue paradigm shift” in Kenya’s policing.
Author
Kenneth Mwenda
Kenneth Mwenda is a digital writer with over five years of experience. He graduated in February 2022 with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from The Co-operative University of Kenya. He has written news and feature stories for platforms such as Construction Review Online, Sports Brief, Briefly News, and Criptonizando. In 2023, he completed a course in Digital Investigation Techniques with AFP. He joined K24 Digital in May 2025. For inquiries, he can be reached at [email protected].
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