Elsewhere, the newspapers analysed the political game plans across competition ahead of the 2027 vote, with President William Ruto seeming to bank on a partnership with ODM leader Raila Odinga to win his re-election.

The newspaper spared pages for the probe into the death of Albert Ojwang, 31, while in police custody.

Ojwang, a teacher by profession, was arrested at his father's home in Homa Bay County on Saturday, June 7.

At the centre of his arrest was an alleged defamatory post that the deceased made on social media against Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat.

After his arrest in Homa Bay, the father of one was booked into the Mawego Police Station as the plans for his transfer to Nairobi started.

The officers at Mawego assured the teacher's father that his son would be safe in custody.

Ojwang's family had gathered for lunch as he inspected the construction of his new house, according to Daily Nation.

"Two of them came through the back fence, and the third used the front gate. The rest surrounded the homestead like they were laying an ambush," an uncle of the deceased confided in the newspaper.

Before his arrest, Ojwang had purchased seedlings and was tending to his vegetable nursery in preparation for planting.

As his wife, Nevina Onyango, was about to serve him lunch, the police officers arrived unexpectedly.

They informed his father that they were taking Ojwang into custody due to a post he had made on X, in which he accused a senior officer of corruption.

After being handcuffed, he was placed between two officers on a motorcycle and transported to the nearby Mawego Police Station.

His family followed, unaware that he would soon be transferred to Nairobi; during the arrest, authorities confiscated his phone.

At the station, officers presented him with a two-page document, which he signed after including his name and ID number.

However, his family was not given the opportunity to read the document, and no formal booking confirmation was provided to them.

The father was, however, told that "Ojwang is very safe".

Later, Ojwang’s father was sent home to retrieve a sweater for his son, as one officer mentioned that Nairobi’s cold weather would require it.

Later, the same six officers placed Ojwang into an unmarked dark vehicle and reassured the family that he was in safe hands.

His father boarded a bus to trail the officers.

However, before his arrival in Nairobi on Sunday, June 8, he received the sad news that his son had died while in custody.

Upon viewing his body at Nairobi Funeral Home, his father noticed visible injuries, including a bruised torso, facial wounds, and bleeding from the nose.

"He was bleeding from the nose and had a bruised torso and face. He was also shirtless, but this is not how I handed him over to the police on Saturday. My son died like an animal,” the distraught father told the press outside the morgue.

The Standard reported on the woes now facing Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat, who is now under scrutiny following the arrest and mysterious death of Ojwang.

In an apparent bid to pacify the public amid speculation and anger, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja confirmed that Lagat, who heads the Kenya Police Service (NPS), was responsible for filing the complaint that led to Ojwang’s arrest in Homa Bay.

Shortly after being transferred to Nairobi, the teacher tragically died in custody.

During a press briefing at Central Police Station in Nairobi, where Ojwang was reportedly discovered unconscious, Kanja stated that Lagat had lodged the complaint, claiming his name was being tarnished.

"There was a complaint that had been logged by the DIG KPS (Eliud Lagat) that his name was being tarnished, and that is why Albert Ojwang was arrested," Kanja said.

As a result, authorities moved to detain Ojwang.

Following his arrest, he was transported to Nairobi and booked under OB number 136/7/2025 at Central Police Station.

The next morning, officers conducting a routine check found him unresponsive in his cell. He was rushed to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was declared dead upon arrival.

The newspaper documented the rage of Kenyans following the death of blogger Albert Ojwang while in police custody.

As hinted earlier, the high school teacher of Kiswahili and religious studies at the Kenyan coast was taken in after a post he allegedly made against DIG Eliud Lagat.

His mysterious death in police custody sparked anger among Kenyans who were convinced that he had been murdered by the officers.

Earlier, the police had alluded to Ojwang having harmed himself, after allegedly hitting his head on the wall in the cell where he was in solitary confinement.

The opposition leaders, seeming to take up the matter for their political boost, accused the state of unending extrajudicial killings.

Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua insisted that the DIG was the one to be held personally liable for Ojwang's death.

"DIG Eliud Lagat is the complainant and the one who ordered Ojwang's arrest based on his online comments. He must be held accountable for stepping aside," said Gachagua.

Activists and human rights defenders, led by Haki Africa leader Hussein Khalid, marched in Nairobi to protest the killing, armed with their banners reading "Stop killing us! Justice for Albert Ojwang!"

The newspaper reported on the political alignments ahead of the 2027 general election.

President William Ruto is facing tough opposition as his regime continues to grow unpopular, owing to a host of factors, including corruption, unkept campaign promises, alleged extrajudicial killings and exploitative tax regimes.

Ruto's senior advisor, Moses Kuria, hinted at the formation of a significant political alliance with ODM leader Raila Odinga ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking at a fundraising event in Ugenya Sub-County, Kuria described himself and Raila as influential political figures, suggesting that their alliance would be formidable and unexpected.

"Me and Raila Baba have remained silent, but you should be very worried," Kuria said.

Kuria also criticised former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of fostering tribal divisions following his impeachment.

He urged the Luo community to support President Ruto until 2032, emphasising that the current administration presents unique opportunities for Nyanza’s development.

Additionally, he pointed out that previous governments had neglected the region due to its opposition stance.

"Gachagwa has shown an obsession with his ethnic group. The days of the Luos being sidelined are over," Kuria said.

Gachagua is plotting against Ruto, uniting with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, DAP Kenya's Eugene Wamalwa, PLP's Martha Karua, former Attorney General Justin Muturi and former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i.

Source: TUKO.co.ke