Cell 3: Where Albert Ojwang Took His Last Breath

On the morning of June 5, 2025, Kenyans awoke to devastating news: Albert Omondi Ojwang, a teacher, husband, father, and rising digital influencer, was dead. He had been held overnight at Cell 3 of Central Police Station in Nairobi, having been transferred from Homa Bay under controversial circumstances. The official report said he took his own life. But the growing chorus of voices demanding answers refuses to accept that story at face value.

This is a look inside the last hour of Albert Ojwang’s life—what we know, what remains unclear, and why the truth matters now more than ever.

The Transfer: A Journey into Silence

Albert Ojwang was arrested in Homa Bay County on June 4 for allegedly defaming Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat via a post on social media. The tweet, now deleted, criticized police conduct—a topic Albert was vocal about.

Without his family being notified, Ojwang was reportedly transported overnight to Nairobi’s Central Police Station, arriving around 4 a.m. He was placed in Cell 3, according to early reports confirmed by both police and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). Less than four hours later, he was dead.

The Final Hour: Gaps, Contradictions & Suspicion

By 6:30 a.m., officers on duty reportedly found Ojwang “unresponsive.” He was declared dead shortly after.

The official police statement suggested that he had “hanged himself” using his clothes. However, this narrative has come under heavy scrutiny for several reasons:

Injury Marks: Family members who viewed the body say he had visible swelling on his face, injuries to his torso, and blood coming from his nose—details inconsistent with hanging.
No Suicide Note, No CCTV Evidence:There was no note, and there are no publicly released CCTV recordings from the station that confirm or contradict the police's version.
Fellow Detainees:No detainees from Cell 3 or nearby cells have spoken publicly. Rights activists suspect they may have been released or transferred to avoid witness testimonies.
Officer Accountability:At least five officers who were on duty that night have been suspended pending investigations, suggesting internal procedures were either violated or grossly mishandled.

💔 A Family's Anguish

Albert’s wife, still recovering from childbirth, received the news of his death while cradling their one-month-old baby. “He left for work. I didn’t even know he had been arrested,” she said during a vigil. “Now, I’m planning a funeral instead of a homecoming.”

His family has rejected the suicide narrative, pointing to the post-mortem injuries as proof that he may have been tortured or fatally assaulted. Their call is simple but chilling: “Tell us what really happened in Cell 3.”

Public Response and Investigations

Protests broke out in Nairobi and Homa Bay shortly after news of Ojwang’s death spread. Civil rights organizations such as Amnesty International Kenya, the Law Society of Kenya, and Kituo cha Sheria** have called for a transparent, independent investigation.

IPOA has confirmed that a probe is underway, while a coalition of legal advocates has demanded that autopsy findings be made public. Meanwhile, the hashtag JusticeForOjwang continues to trend, serving as both a digital memorial and a rallying cry.

Why the Truth Matters

Albert Ojwang wasn’t the first Kenyan to die in police custody—but his story has touched a nerve. Maybe it’s because he was a teacher. Maybe it’s because he was young and hopeful. Maybe it’s because he tweeted what many think but are afraid to say. Or maybe it’s because Cell 3 now symbolizes something far bigger than one man’s death: it represents the silent fear many citizens live with under state surveillance and unchecked authority.

Until the truth comes out, Cell 3 is no longer just a room with four walls and a locked door.It is a symbol. Of secrecy. Of power. And of a system that must answer.