President William Ruto has broken his silence on the death of Albert Ojwang, the social media influencer and teacher who died in police custody under suspicious circumstances, condemning the actions that led to the tragedy and calling for a thorough and transparent investigation.
In a statement issued from State House Nairobi on June 11, the President expressed deep sorrow over Ojwang’s death, joining the nation in mourning. “Like most Kenyans, and especially as a parent, I received the news of the death of Albert Ojwang while in police custody with utter shock and deep dismay,” said Ruto. “I take this moment to extend my heartfelt condolences to Mr. Meshack Ojwang and his family for the cruel loss of their beloved son.”
Ruto termed the incident “heartbreaking and unacceptable,” strongly condemning the actions and omissions—whether by negligence or criminal intent—that may have contributed to Ojwang’s death while in custody. He emphasized that any person in police custody is under the full protection and responsibility of the National Police Service, and that duty must be discharged conscientiously.
“The National Police Service is the nation’s trusted custodian of the security of all persons and property, and they must always uphold this trust in order to secure and maintain legitimacy and credibility in the eyes of the people,” he said.
The President reiterated his belief in the importance of an independent and professional police service and stated that misconduct must be rooted out from within the force. He called on the police to fully cooperate with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and to facilitate a swift, transparent, and credible investigation into the circumstances of Ojwang’s death.
“It has been my conviction that affirming the institutional autonomy of the police service is key to raising its standards of professionalism, effectiveness, accountability, and credibility,” he said.
While urging patience, Ruto underscored the importance of vigilance in tracking the progress of the investigation. “Let us patiently but vigilantly follow the progress of the investigations without making premature judgments or drawing conclusions that could compromise the process and its outcome,” he cautioned.
The President concluded with a firm commitment to justice. “I fully expect that the truth about what happened to Ojwang will be established in due course, and that justice will be served.”
