Kenya Erupts in Protests Over Blogger’s Death in Police Custody

Protests swept across Kenya on Thursday following the shocking death of 31-year-old blogger and former teacher, Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody under suspicious circumstances sparking outrage over alleged police brutality and impunity.

Ojwang was arrested last week in Homa Bay, western Kenya, after publishing social media posts criticizing Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eliud Lagat, and linking him to a reported bribery scandal. After his arrest, Ojwang was transported over 200 miles to Nairobi, where he died just hours later.

Police initially claimed that the blogger had “hit his head on a cell wall,” but that narrative quickly unraveled after an autopsy revealed multiple signs of torture.

“The cause of death is very clear head injury, neck compression, and other injuries spread all over the body that are pointing towards assault,” said Dr. Bernard Midia, one of five pathologists who examined the body. “Multiple soft tissue injuries” were also documented.

Six police officers were on duty at the time of Ojwang’s death. One officer has been arrested and charged with murder, while two others remain at large. Kenya’s Independent Policing Oversight Authority has confirmed that more arrests are expected.

Demonstrations erupted almost immediately after news of Ojwang’s death became public earlier in the week, but Thursday’s protests were the largest yet paralyzing parts of Nairobi and several towns in western Kenya and the Rift Valley. Many businesses closed their doors as protestors blocked roads, set vehicles on fire, and clashed with police in attempts to march on Parliament.

“There’s no value for life; they are killing us every day,” said journalist and activist Hanifa Adan at one of the rallies. “We are here demanding justice.”

Chants of “No justice, no budget!” and “Lagat must go!” rang out from demonstrators holding signs and newspaper front pages highlighting the incident. The protests also served as a powerful echo of last year’s anti-tax demonstrations, which left more than 60 people dead and underscored growing public dissatisfaction with the government and security forces.

In a dramatic turn, Police Chief Douglas Kanja issued a public apology for initially misleading the nation about Ojwang’s death. During a tense parliamentary hearing, lawmakers grilled senior police officials amid growing pressure to reform law enforcement and account for the over 20 deaths in custody recorded in just the past four months.

As the investigation continues and more arrests loom, Kenyans are demanding real accountability not just for Ojwang, but for a police system many say has operated with near-total impunity.


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