Outrage in Kenya as Man Dies in Police Custody After Reporting Senior Officer

Kenya’s police chief confirmed on Monday that a man who died in police custody over the weekend had recently filed a complaint against a senior police official.

Albert Ojwang, 31, was found unconscious in a cell at a Nairobi police station on Saturday and was later declared dead at a hospital. Police allege he suffered fatal injuries after “hitting his head repeatedly against a wall.”

However, his family and legal team dispute this version of events. “We saw the body yesterday. It had numerous injuries on the hands and shoulder area, and the head was severely swollen—particularly in the frontal region. There was blood from the nose and ears,” said Julius Juma, the family’s lawyer, at a press briefing outside the Nairobi morgue on Monday, where supporters had also gathered.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage, coming as the country marks the one-year anniversary of protests against tax hikes and corruption. Those demonstrations, which were met with a violent police response, resulted in the deaths of at least 60 people.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja confirmed that Ojwang had been arrested following a complaint by Deputy Inspector General Eliud Kipkoech Lagat. “There was a complaint regarding defamation of the Deputy Inspector General. Investigations were underway because he also has the right to be protected by the law,” Kanja said.

Human rights organization Amnesty International has called for an “urgent, thorough, and independent” investigation into Ojwang’s death.

The case has added to growing concerns about a crackdown on government critics. Rights groups report that over 80 people have been detained without due process since the June 2024 protests, some for actions as minor as posting satirical cartoons of President William Ruto.

Former Attorney General Justin Muturi, whose son was reportedly detained during the protests, condemned Ojwang’s death. “The circumstances surrounding his death, including the alleged ‘suicide attempt’ in custody, are not just suspicious—they are outrageous,” Muturi wrote on X.

“They insult the intelligence of Kenyans and raise very serious concerns about the conduct, accountability, and integrity of our law enforcement agencies.”

The incident has increased calls for accountability and justice in cases of custodial deaths and alleged police abuse.