Police Constable James Mukhwana, based at Nairobi’s Central Police Station, has been arrested in connection with the death of teacher and political blogger Albert Ojwang, whose passing in police custody has sparked nationwide outrage and protests in the capital.
An internal police signal dated June 12, 2025, confirmed that Mukhwana was arrested by detectives from the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) and placed in custody at Capital Hill Police Station. He is expected to be charged with murder, contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code.
“Please be informed that No. 260950 PC James Mukhwana of Central Police Station Nairobi, was arrested today, 12/06/2025 and placed in custody at Capitol Hill Police Station by officers from IAU and IPOA,” the signal stated.
“He is to be charged with the offence of murder… following the death of one Albert Ojwang. IPOA and IAU are dealing. More details to follow.”
Ojwang, a teacher and outspoken online commentator, died after being transferred from Homa Bay to Nairobi and held at Central Police Station. Police initially claimed he committed suicide in custody, but an independent autopsy contradicted this, revealing blunt force trauma, neck compression, and multiple soft tissue injuries.
The incident triggered violent protests across Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) on Thursday. Demonstrators demanded justice and called for the resignation of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat, named as the complainant in the case against Ojwang.
Amid the unrest, two vehicles were torched near Nairobi Cinema as protesters attempted to storm Parliament, where Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi was delivering the 2025/26 budget estimates.
The protests left a trail of destruction. Shops and properties were vandalised along major city roads including Ronald Ngala Street, Tom Mboya Street, Moi Avenue, Kenyatta Avenue, City Hall Way, and Haile Selassie Avenue.
Among the damaged public infrastructure were newly installed Nairobi County Government dustbins, part of Governor Johnson Sakaja’s city cleanup initiative. The black bins—bearing the slogan “Let’s make Nairobi clean”—were uprooted and shattered across the city.
The vandalism echoes unrest from June 2024, when City Hall was partially set ablaze during previous anti-government protests.
The latest events have renewed pressure on police and government officials, with opposition leaders issuing a 24-hour ultimatum on Wednesday, demanding Mr Lagat’s resignation to allow for an impartial investigation into Ojwang’s death.
The arrest of PC Mukhwana marks a major turning point in the case, as both the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the IAU pursue parallel investigations into potential police misconduct and cover-up efforts.
