Emotions ran high outside the Central Police Station in Nairobi as the father of Albert Ojwang, an influencer who died in police custody, broke down in tears while addressing the media.
In a video seen by Nairobileo.co.ke, the grieving father is visibly distraught, overcome by the loss of his son under circumstances that remain unclear.
Ojwang was arrested in Homa Bay County and later transported to Nairobi, where he was booked at Central Police Station.
He would later be pronounced dead at the Mbagathi Hospital after being found with head injuries in the cells.
Narrating the final moments he shared with his son, Ojwang's father recounted how a normal Saturday quickly turned into a nightmare.
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"For the better part of Saturday, June 7, my son and I were working on our farm; my son was working on some vegetables while I was weeding maize. After that, he left for Ringa to get trees to plant in the homestead, and upon returning, his mother had prepared some food which we went on to have.
"His uncle and I ate from the house while he, along with his mother, wife, their child, and my brother's children ate outside the house. When we were about to have our meals, I heard a motorbike approaching the homestead; I went outside to welcome whoever was coming," he said.
It was just before having their meals when three motorbikes arrived at the homestead and took Ojwang into custody moments later.
"Three motorbikes arrived; two went around the homestead while one came through the front side of the homestead. They identified themselves as police officers and informed me that they had come because of my son.
"He was placed in handcuffs and taken away. When I asked what he was being arrested for, they (police officers) said my son had insulted their boss on the social media platform, X. When I asked which boss was insulted, an officer told me off before he instructed me to follow them to Mawingu Police Station," he added.
The family’s lawyer condemned the circumstances under which Ojwang died, calling for the need for a thorough investigation.
“That (what Ojwang' is accused of) is not something that I expect would lead to someone losing his life. It doesn't matter what the offence is, there is the law. We would have expected that the boy would be brought to the station, processed normally, and taken to court.
"It is quite unfortunate, and this is a matter that must be investigated so that the truth is revealed," the lawyer stated.
