LSK Demands Justice for Albert Ojwang, Cites Illegal Arrest and Transfer
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By Archeadious Kubai
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has sharply condemned the death of Albert Ojwang while in police custody at Nairobi’s Central Police Station, calling it a result of an illegal arrest and unlawful transfer from Homa Bay.
Ojwang, reportedly healthy at the time of his arrest in Homa Bay, was held at Mawego Police Station before being transferred overnight to Nairobi, where he died under unclear circumstances. His arrest stemmed from allegations of false social media posts targeting Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Langat.
LSK President Faith Odhiambi questioned the legal basis for the arrest and slammed the overnight transfer, citing Section 71 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which requires suspects to be tried either where the offence was committed or where the arrest occurred—unless ordered otherwise by a court.
“The key question is whether there was any evidence Mr. Ojwang was in Nairobi when the post was made. If not, why wasn’t he charged in Homa Bay?” she asked.
Odhiambi further pointed to Chapter 15 of the National Police Service Standing Orders, which mandates a magistrate’s remand order for any inter-station transfer—a step that was skipped.
“No magistrate sat that night. This was a clear violation of procedure and a gross abuse of power,” she added.
Dismissing claims of an accidental death, LSK is calling the incident a potential criminal conspiracy. The society also urged Deputy IG Langat to recuse himself from the investigation due to a conflict of interest.
“Why was Albert Ojwang treated with such hostility that he died in custody? The police must answer,” Odhiambi stated.
Public outrage continues to mount, with growing calls for justice and accountability from the National Police Service.
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