State House Official Demands Urgent Reforms Following Death of Influencer Albert Ojwang
Dennis Itumbi, the Digital Strategist and Head of Creative Economy in the Office of President William Ruto, has issued a passionate call for urgent legal reforms following the tragic death of popular social media influencer and teacher, Albert Ojwang.
In a strongly worded statement released on Monday, June 9, Itumbi stressed the pressing need to modernise the country’s custodial procedures to align with the realities of the digital era. He said the laws should be updated to ensure fair and humane treatment, especially for those working in the online space.
“We urgently need to have clear, fair, and humane rules when it comes to the arrest and handling of bloggers and digital content creators,” Itumbi said.
Albert Ojwang was confirmed dead on Saturday, June 8. His sudden death sparked widespread outrage on social media and among the public due to the mysterious and unclear circumstances surrounding his passing.
According to a statement from the National Police Service (NPS), Ojwang had been arrested in Homa Bay County over allegations of publishing false information online.
Although Itumbi did not directly point fingers, he expressed deep concern over the vulnerability of online content creators in Kenya. He highlighted that the current legal systems appear outdated and can easily be abused to unfairly target bloggers, microbloggers, and digital influencers.
“We must reimagine our custodial practices — not just on paper, but in how they’re applied in real-life situations — in a way that respects the rights and freedoms of people in this digital age,” he stated.
He went on to say, “There’s a lot more I could say, but not today. My role is to help bring change and solutions to this space. My work is not about airing complaints in public but making things better behind the scenes.”
This is not the first time Itumbi has spoken out in defense of digital media professionals. On May 3, he publicly criticized the arrest of four filmmakers following the release of a documentary titled Blood Parliament.
The film exposed detailed events surrounding the anti-Finance Bill protests in 2024. While condemning their detention, Itumbi also called for the production of another documentary to expose those who orchestrated the storming of Parliament on June 25, 2024.
As the investigation into Ojwang’s death continues, questions are growing about what truly happened. The initial police report claimed Ojwang was found unconscious in his jail cell, but the family believes there is more to the story.
A lawyer representing Ojwang’s family viewed the body after it was taken to City Mortuary from Mbagathi Hospital, where he had been pronounced dead.
The lawyer shared disturbing details, saying that Ojwang had visible injuries on his hands and shoulders. These appeared to be defensive wounds, indicating he may have struggled or been involved in a violent encounter before his death.
The family’s legal team has cast doubt on the official police version of events, demanding a thorough and transparent investigation into how Ojwang was treated while in custody.
As pressure mounts, both from the public and from influential voices like Itumbi, many are hoping this tragedy will lead to long-overdue reforms to protect Kenya’s digital creators and ensure accountability in law enforcement.
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