Kenya Gripped by Protests Over Albert Ojwang’s Death in Police Custody
The autopsy findings ignited nationwide outrage, prompting civil society, youth groups, and regional leaders to call for a shutdown.
Thousands protest in Nairobi demanding justice for blogger Albert Ojwang’s suspicious death in police custody. Photo/Courtesy.
By Janet Philip
Kenya came to a standstill on Tuesday as thousands protested in Nairobi’s Central Business District, demanding justice for Albert Omondi Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher and blogger who died in police custody under suspicious circumstances.
The youth-led demonstrations, marked by placards bearing Ojwang’s image and chants against police brutality, called for accountability and an end to impunity within the National Police Service.
Ojwang was arrested on June 6 in Homa Bay County, accused of defaming Deputy Inspector General Eliud Kipkoech Lagat online. Transported over 350 kilometers to Nairobi’s Central Police Station, he died two days later.
Police initially claimed Ojwang injured himself by hitting his head against a cell wall, but an autopsy revealed neck compression and soft tissue injuries, pointing to assault. “These injuries were externally inflicted,” said Dr. Bernard Midia, lead pathologist.
The autopsy findings ignited nationwide outrage, prompting civil society, youth groups, and regional leaders to call for a shutdown. On Tuesday, government offices fell silent as protesters marched peacefully, though tensions flared.
Reports emerged of hired gangs attempting to disrupt the demonstrations, only to be confronted by enraged protesters. In a tragic incident on Moi Avenue, an unarmed protester was fatally shot by police at point-blank range and rushed to Bliss Medical Centre, witnesses said.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has declared 17 officers involved in Ojwang’s arrest and detention as murder suspects, with three, including Central Police Station’s OCS Samson Talam, arrested.
Lagat stepped aside on Monday, but activists, including VOCAL Africa’s Hussein Khalid, dismissed the move, demanding his prosecution.
President William Ruto condemned the death as “unacceptable” and pledged swift action, but public trust remains eroded amid a history of unpunished police violence.
Protesters vowed to sustain pressure, seeking international attention to Kenya’s police brutality crisis. “This isn’t just about Albert—it’s about a system that kills with impunity,” said activist Felix Wanjiku.
The government faces a critical test: deliver accountability or risk further unrest. Ojwang’s death, a symbol of systemic failure, may yet galvanize lasting change—or become another unresolved injustice.
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