Police station set on fire as Ojwang' returns in coffin

Tears, anger and chaos engulfed Kakoth village in Homa Bay as the body of slain teacher Albert Ojwang arrived home yesterday for burial Friday.

The raw anger that politicians had tried to contain by offering freebies to his family and calls for calm, erupted as the body reached the quiet village shortly after 1pm.

Thousands of mourners, overwhelmed with emotion, demanded that the body be handed to them so that they could take it to Mawego National Polytechnic.

But the family objected to their demands and pleaded with them to allow them to take the body to Nyawango Primary School, which had been picked as the body viewing venue.

Albert’s father, Meshack Ojwang, pleaded with them, but his pleas fell on deaf ears as the mourners chanted calls for justice for the slain teacher.

The youth forcibly removed the body from the limousine that was carrying it and left with the coffin on their shoulders as family members followed helplessly.

Instead of heading to Mawego Polytechnic, they carried the body to the Mawego Police Station.

Chanting “Justice for Ojwang,” the mourners stormed the police station located about four kilometers from the blogger’s home while chanting anti-police slogans.

The officers who were at the station fled as the crowd approached.

To the mourners, the police station was the first place that participated in the conspiracy that ended in the murder of the young father.

Homa Bay County Police Commander Lawrence Koilem said the officers had to restrain themselves.

“Police retreated to reorganise themselves, but the crowd stormed it and torched offices,” Koilem said.

The angry mourners vandalised anything in sight, including the Mawego Police Station signpost at the entrance to the station.

After protesting at the station, they set buildings on fire before leaving with the body.

An administration police officer who watched the drama helplessly told The Standard six police officers attached to the station fled after word went round that the station would be attacked over claims that it was used to detain Ojwang’ before he was taken to Nairobi where he was killed.

Joseph Onyango, a resident, told The Standard that the anger about one of their own being killed at the hands of the police was still fresh.

“No amount of money or a new house will take away the pain that our son endured at the hands of rogue police officers,” he said.

Another resident, who asked not to be named, accused politicians of attempting to downplay the murder by offering freebies to the family.

He said all police officers who interacted with Ojwang, including the ones who agreed to have him detained at Mawego, should be held accountable for his death.

“We believe the masterminds of this heinous murder are still roaming free. It is saddening how he was snatched from their home in front of his parents, only to return in a casket,” he said.

Residents dismissed the gifts that had been sent to Ojwang’s family by politicians, saying it was a political gimmick.

“We are talking about parents who have lost their only child. Politicians should not assume you can replace a human life with material gifts,” said Johaness Ochieng.

At home, the small house that was the family home for Ojwang’s parents has been replaced by a permanent house built in record time.

The house was funded by Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga who claimed she was implementing Ojwang’s dream of building his parents a decent home.

President William Ruto donated Sh2 million while ODM leader Raila Odinga donated Sh1 million to the family. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, offered to cover all burial expenses, fund Ojwang’s child’s education, and clear the outstanding college fees for his widow, who is pursuing a course in community health.