7 suspects arraigned for torching Mawego Police Station during Albert Ojwang’s burial protests

Seven suspects accused of leading the arson attack on Mawego Police Station in Homa Bay County during protests over the death of blogger Albert Ojwang have been arraigned before the Oyugis Law Courts.

The suspects — identified as Kennedy Oluoch, Nicholas Otieno, Tofiq Owiti Mohamed, Michael Omondi Opiyo, David Bill Clinton Otieno, Robert Ouko Abala, and Samuel Ouma Odhiambo — are said to have orchestrated the attack on July 3, 2025, which detectives say led to the destruction of property.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the seven are believed to be the “ringleaders behind the coordinated attack, carried out in collaboration with other accomplices who remain at large.”

During the hearing on Tuesday, the court granted a seven-day custodial period for the detectives to conclude their investigations.

On Thursday last week, tensions flared during the funeral procession of Ojwang’, who died in police custody at the Central Police Station in Nairobi after being transferred from Mawego Police Station.

Youths intercepted his body en route to Kokwanyo village, demanding that it be taken to the station where he was first detained.

Despite pleas from Ojwang’s father, the rowdy youths forcibly redirected the body to Mawego Police Station, where they overran barricades and set the post ablaze. At the time of the incident, police officers had already vacated the premises.

Homa Bay County Police Commander, Lawrence Koilen, condemned the violence and confirmed that the Officer Commanding Station’s office was among the facilities destroyed.

“This kind of lawlessness cannot be condoned. We urge the public to seek justice through legal channels,” Koilen said in a statement following the incident.