NAIROBI, Kenya – June 10, 2025 — Telecommunications company Safaricom has denied any involvement in the arrest and subsequent death of Albert Omondi Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher and prominent social media critic of the Kenyan government.
Ojwang was arrested on Saturday in Homa Bay, allegedly due to posts on X (formerly Twitter) where he criticized Kenya’s Deputy Inspector General of Police. He was transferred to Nairobi and detained at the Central Police Station, where he later died.
A postmortem revealed that Ojwang died from severe injuries, including to his neck, raising doubts about the police's claim that he took his own life while in custody.
In an official statement, Safaricom clarified that it had no connection to the security agencies involved in the arrest or the incident itself. "There was no contact whatsoever between us and the agencies investigating or arresting the deceased,” said Safaricom CEO, Dr. Peter Ndegwa.
The company also condemned remarks by Hon. Justin Muturi, who had alleged Safaricom's involvement in the incident.
Kenyan President William Ruto condemned Ojwang’s death, acknowledging that it occurred while the teacher was in police custody, and ordered an immediate investigation into the matter.
Ojwang, known for his vocal criticism of government officials and security agencies, has become a symbol of the struggle for freedom of expression in Kenya. His death has sparked widespread outrage both nationally and internationally, prompting calls for government accountability.
