Trans Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya has called for an immediate investigation into the death of Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody.

In a statement on X, on Monday, June 8, 2025, the embattled governor condemned the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death and called for justice.

“It is with profound sadness and deep concern that I condemn the tragic and untimely death of Albert Ojwang while in custody at the Central Police Station in Nairobi,” he stated.

“I call for an immediate, transparent, and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Albert Ojwang’s death. Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done. Anything less would be a disservice to his memory and a betrayal of the values we hold dear.”

Further, he stated that no Kenyan should lose their life under the watch of those entrusted with their safety.

“No Kenyan, no human being, should ever perish under the watch of those entrusted with their safety. The sanctity of life must remain the cornerstone of our justice system, and it is the solemn duty of our law enforcement agencies to protect, not imperil, those in their care, he stated.

Ojwang’s death

Ojwang died on June 8, 2025, hours after officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested him over a social media post.

He was picked up by police officers in Kakot, Homa Bay County, on Saturday afternoon, June 7, 2025, who said they were probing him over a post he allegedly made on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

They later drove him to Nairobi and detained him at the Central Police Station.

However, when his family arrived at the police station on Sunday, June 8, 2025, to follow up on the case, they found he was dead.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) Chairperson Issack Hassan has stressed that the commission has already deployed a team to probe the controversial death of Ojwang in police custody.

Addressing the press on Monday, June 9, 2025, at the Central Police Station in Nairobi, Hassan assured Kenyans that IPOA would conduct an intensive investigation aimed at establishing the truth and ensuring justice prevails.

“Our mandate is to uphold the rule of law and protect citizens from any form of abuse by the police. We shall leave no stone unturned in uncovering the circumstances that led to Mr Ojwang’s death,” he affirmed.

Hassan also appealed to the public to remain patient and trust the process, stressing that investigations of this nature require time and thoroughness.