In the escalating tensions gripping Kenya, the burning of Mawego Police Station on July 3, 2025, has become a stark symbol of public frustration. Seven suspects, including Kennedy Oluoch and Nicholas Otieno, have been swiftly arraigned before the Oyugis Law Courts, accused of orchestrating the arson attack during protests sparked by the death of blogger Albert Ojwang' in police custody.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), these individuals are believed to be the "ringleaders" behind the coordinated attack that led to the destruction of the station's facilities, including the Officer Commanding Station's office. The court has granted detectives a seven-day custodial period to conclude their investigations, demonstrating a rapid response from the justice system.
A Tale of Two Justices: The Burning Station vs. The Fallen Blogger
The circumstances surrounding the Mawego incident are deeply unsettling. Tensions flared when youths intercepted Ojwang's body during his funeral procession, demanding it be taken to Mawego Police Station – the very place he was first detained before his transfer to Nairobi's Central Police Station, where he died under unclear circumstances. Despite pleas from his father, the grieving youth, fueled by anger and a desperate cry for justice, overran barricades and set the station ablaze after police officers had already vacated the premises. Watch more on.
Homa Bay County Police Commander Lawrence Koilen condemned the "lawlessness" and urged the public to "seek justice through legal channels." However, his statement rings hollow for many Kenyans who observe a stark dichotomy in the pace and efficacy of justice.
The burning question, amplified by every passing day, is this: Why is the police system so swift in finding and bringing to book the suspects who burned down a station, yet seemingly paralyzed in delivering justice for the murder of Albert Ojwang'?
Albert Ojwang', a teacher and social media influencer, was arrested on June 7, 2025, in Homa Bay over a social media post and died just a day later in detention in Nairobi. Autopsy reports have since contradicted initial police claims of self-inflicted injuries, revealing signs of blunt force trauma, neck compression, and brain bleeding consistent with assault. President William Ruto himself has publicly acknowledged that Ojwang' died "at the hands of the police," and an officer has been arrested in connection to his death.
Yet, despite these admissions and an ongoing investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), tangible progress towards holding the specific officers responsible for Ojwang's death fully accountable appears agonizingly slow to the public.
The Unheard Grievances: A System Under Scrutiny
The Mawego incident is not an isolated act of wanton destruction; it is a visceral outburst of frustration stemming from deep-seated grievances against a police system perceived as opaque, unresponsive, and often brutal. The youth of Kenya, particularly the vibrant and vocal Gen Z, are not merely "rioting" but are actively demanding:
- Police Reforms: An end to impunity, police brutality, and extrajudicial killings. The failure to secure justice for victims like Ojwang' fuels the very anger that leads to such destructive acts.
- Government Accountability: A demand for leaders to address the economic hardships, alleged corruption, and disregard for human rights that define their daily lives.
- Systemic Change: A belief that the current judicial and policing systems are failing the "common mwananchi" (ordinary citizen) when it comes to holding those in power or state agents accountable.
The rapid prosecution of the Mawego suspects, while the fate of Ojwang's alleged murderers remains in limbo, further solidifies the public's perception of a skewed justice system – one that prioritizes state property over human life, and punitive measures against protesters over addressing their legitimate concerns.
Is Our Judicial System Truly Just?
The effectiveness and fairness of Kenya's judicial system are now under intense scrutiny. When citizens resort to such extreme measures as burning a police station, it signals a profound breakdown of trust in established legal channels to deliver justice for grave injustices. The sentiment, "sad country we live in, sad times we live in," echoes widely.
Arrests and incarcerations, while necessary for maintaining law and order, cannot, on their own, extinguish the flames of a movement born from deep-seated frustrations. Until the government demonstrates a genuine commitment to:
- Swift and transparent justice for victims of police brutality, including Albert Ojwang'.
- Comprehensive police reforms that prioritize human rights and accountability.
- Open dialogue and tangible solutions to the economic and governance issues fueling public discontent.
...then incidents like the Mawego police station burning will continue to be symptoms of a larger, unaddressed sickness within the nation. The tragic reality is that while the suspects for Mawego Police Station face the full force of the law, the demand for justice for Albert Ojwang' continues to echo, a haunting reminder of a system that, for many, remains far from just or efficient.
