Wamuzi News Ke
A political storm is brewing after the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) disowned a circulating statement claiming Raila Odinga urged Gen Z protesters to call off planned demonstrations today over the brutal murder of influencer Albert Ojwang.ODM has come out swinging, branding the viral message attributed to their party leader as “fake” and “malicious.”
The statement, which surfaced late Monday, June 16, was allegedly from Raila, appealing to the youth to “remain calm” and “stay home” amid outrage over Ojwang’s suspicious death while in police custody.In the now-flagged post, Raila was quoted as calling for patience, asking Kenyans not to give in to “incitement” over Ojwang’s death.
The fake post further claimed that Raila had spoken to President William Ruto, who supposedly promised a full investigation and “fair compensation” for Ojwang’s family — a move that has since been rubbished by ODM as pure fabrication.
“This is not Raila’s message,” ODM officials emphasized. “Kenyans must remain alert and refuse to be misled by propaganda.”The hoax statement, styled like a heartfelt plea, warned against destroying the country with protests, saying: “It has taken years to build this nation. Let’s not tear it down.”
But the reality on the ground tells a different story — Kenyans, particularly the youth, are still seething with fury over the mysterious death of Ojwang, a vibrant voice on social media who was reportedly arrested in Homa Bay and later tortured to death at Central Police Station on Sunday, June 8.
The incident has placed the National Police Service under intense national scrutiny, with Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat at the center of the storm.
Facing mounting pressure, Lagat has voluntarily stepped aside, citing a “moral obligation” to allow an impartial probe into the shocking death.
As calls for justice grow louder, the streets are simmering with tension. The youth — many of whom consider Ojwang one of their own — are refusing to stay silent.The fake Raila statement may have aimed to douse the fire, but it seems to have only added fuel to a nation on edge.
Adiedo Lentitus
