Eucabeth Adhiambo Ojwang, mother to the late Albert Ojwang, has recounted the last moments with her son before his arrest by police officers in Homa Bay County on June 7.
Speaking during his requiem service on Wednesday, July 2, at the Ridgeways Baptist Church, Eucabeth revealed that officers raided their home just before he was about to eat food she had prepared.
She narrated that upon the arrival of the officers, Ojwang started trembling as the cops expressed their intent to arrest him. Upon questioning her son on the reason for the police presence, Eucabeth stated that Ojwang told her he had done nothing wrong.
Eucabeth decried that the police could have attempted to ask Ojwang if he had any dependents before arresting him.
“They took my Albert just when I had prepared lunch for him. He had not even taken a bite of ugali before the police took him. When they came, Albert was trembling. I asked him what was wrong; he told me he had done nothing,” she narrated.
“They could have at least asked if he had dependents before arresting him. Why did they arrest my Albert?” she decried.
Eucabeth further added that her son was a good person who did not have trouble with anybody. Ojwang was arrested by police officers for publishing false information on Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat.
The National Police Service (NPS) revealed that DIG Lagat, who has since stepped aside, lodged a formal complaint over the posts, terming them as defamatory. Afterwards, individuals believed to be officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested Albert before driving him to the Central Police Station in Nairobi.
It is at Central Police Station, while in police custody, Ojwang is said to have met his death in mysterious circumstances on Sunday, June 8. However, investigations into his alleged murder revealed a web of police officers and remandees at the said police station as the main suspects.
On Monday, June 16, Police Constable James Mukwana, who was the first individual to be arrested in connection with Ojwang's death, gave a tell-all account of events, with his testimony linking some big names to the death, including DIG Lagat and Central Police Station OCS Samsom Talaam.
According to the constable's chilling account, he was summoned to the office of his boss, OCS Talaam, on June 7 and informed that there was a directive from DIG Lagat that a suspect would arrive at around 8pm. The suspect was supposed to be 'dealt with' as per orders from above.
After his arrival, Ojwang was booked as a suspect and thrown into the cells, where he is said to have been on the receiving end of torture by remandees at the cells. The torture is said to have led to his death. Efforts by officers to rush Ojwang to Mbagathi Hospital proved futile as he was confirmed dead on arrival.
In the aftermath of his death, massive public outrage ensued, with Kenyans even heading to the streets in protest. The Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA) is currently investigating the matter, which is also before the courts.
Ojwang is set to be buried on Friday, July 4, in Homa Bay. Upon his death, Ojwang was survived by his wife and son, but was also depended upon by members of his nuclear family.