Outrage in Kenya: Protests Erupt Following the Death of Political Blogger in Police Custody
In recent days, Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, has been engulfed in large protests following the tragic death of 31-year-old political blogger Albert Ojwang, who died under mysterious circumstances while in police custody. Ojwang’s death is reportedly the twentieth such incident this year, prompting investigations and significant public unrest.
Ojwang was arrested on June 6 in Homa Bay, western Kenya, after Deputy Police Chief Eliud Lagat filed a defamation complaint against him. Lagat had been publicly criticized by Ojwang on his blog, with allegations linking him to ongoing corruption scandals plaguing the nation. Without clarity on the reasons for the arrest, Ojwang was taken to a central police station in Nairobi, approximately 400 kilometers from his hometown, where he was later found dead.
Initial claims from the police indicated that Ojwang had died from hitting his head against the wall of his cell, a narrative that was quickly dismissed as false. This misinformation triggered a wave of protests across the capital. An autopsy conducted by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) instead revealed that Ojwang had suffered from head injuries, neck compression, and numerous bruises, pointing to a violent assault.
The protests commenced peacefully on June 9, starting with sit-ins at the police station where Ojwang met his demise. However, tensions escalated as law enforcement responded with a heavy-handed crackdown, resulting in dozens of arrests. Disturbingly, reports emerged that during protests on June 17, police officers killed at least one civilian, a street vendor selling masks, contradicting earlier claims that he was a protester.
In the wake of public outrage, several officers, including the police station chief and another officer, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the cover-up of Ojwang's death. Other officers on duty at the time have been suspended while investigations continue. In a Senate hearing, police chief Douglas Kanja issued a public apology for the initial misleading claims regarding Ojwang's death, attributing them to misinformation from his junior officers.
The situation took another turn when Eliud Lagat, the deputy police chief who initiated Ojwang's arrest, resigned on June 16. Although Lagat did not explicitly acknowledge his connection to the case in his resignation announcement, he described Ojwang’s death as unfortunate.
The tragic incident highlights the ongoing issues of systemic violence and extrajudicial killings by law enforcement in Kenya. Despite President William Ruto's assurances to address these atrocities following his election in 2022, numerous reports from the Kenya Human Rights Commission disclosed that in 2024 alone, police were responsible for 160 extrajudicial killings. Furthermore, during previous protests against a now-withdrawn tax increase bill, many activists and demonstrators were detained and subsequently killed by police.
It is clear that the unrest in Nairobi is fueled by deep-rooted frustrations regarding police brutality and a lack of accountability within the Kenyan law enforcement system. As citizens continue to demand justice for Albert Ojwang, the consequences of their protests remain uncertain, but there is a growing consensus that the fight for justice against state violence must continue.
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