- Seven prime suspects arraigned over July 3 arson attack at Mawego Police Station.
- Custodial orders granted for seven days as detectives finalise investigations.
- Attack linked to the death of teacher Ojwang, who died in police custody in Nairobi.
- Station offices torched, flags stolen, and police homes looted.
- No injuries reported and police armoury left unharmed.
Seven men suspected of leading a violent attack on Mawego Police Station during the funeral of teacher Ojwang have been brought before the Oyugis Law Courts. Detectives from Rachuonyo North Sub-County arraigned the suspects on Monday, seeking more time to complete investigations.
The suspects include Kennedy Oluoch, Nicholas Otieno, Tofiq Owiti Mohamed, Michael Omondi Opiyo, David Bill Clinton Otieno, Robert Ouko Abala, and Samuel Ouma Odhiambo, whom authorities believe were ringleaders in the arson and destruction of government property.
The court granted the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) a seven-day custodial order, giving detectives more time to trace other individuals believed to have participated in the incident. Several accomplices are still at large.
The chaos unfolded on July 3, when mourners escorting the body of Ojwang, a teacher from Homabay, diverted the funeral procession to Mawego Police Station. The station was allegedly his last point of detention before being transferred to Nairobi Central Police Station, where he died on June 7 under controversial circumstances.
Ojwang had been arrested on allegations of false publication. His death sparked nationwide outrage, with rights groups and the public demanding answers.
As the body arrived at his village ahead of the July 4 burial, mourners, including students from a local polytechnic, stormed the police station, chanting slogans demanding justice.
Police attempted to disperse the crowd with tear gas, but the situation quickly escalated. In a shocking move, some individuals carried the casket into the police compound, symbolically confronting officers.
During the mayhem, both the OCS office and the station’s report office were set on fire. Protesters reportedly stole the national flag, the Kenya Police Service flag, flag posts, and signage from the station before fleeing under a cloud of tear gas.
Nearby officers reported that their residential houses were broken into and looted.
While the property damage was extensive, police confirmed that no injuries were reported, and crucially, the armoury was not breached. Investigations are ongoing, and more arrests are expected as authorities piece together how the symbolic protest turned destructive.
This incident adds to the growing list of tensions between citizens and law enforcement, highlighting the urgent need for transparency, justice, and police reform across the country.
