Kenya: blogger’s death sparks violent protests and outcry over police brutality

Nairobi descended into chaos Thursday (12 June) as angry protests erupted over the death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody under suspicious circumstances.
Riot police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators demanding justice and the resignation of Deputy Police Chief Eliud Lagat, whom Ojwang had accused of corruption. The 31-year-old Ojwang was arrested in Homa Bay in western Kenya last week for allegedly spreading false information about Lagat and transported over 400 kilometers to Nairobi, where he died. Authorities initially claimed he fatally injured himself by hitting a cell wall, but an independent autopsy revealed head injuries, neck compression, and soft tissue damage — signs of assault.
President William Ruto reversed official police accounts on Wednesday (11 June), admitting Ojwang died “at the hands of the police,” and condemned what he called “negligence or outright criminality.” A police constable has since been arrested, and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority has launched an investigation. Demonstrators clashed with security forces near Parliament, where the national budget was being presented. Two vehicles were torched, and several businesses along central Nairobi streets were vandalized. Newly installed city dustbins were also destroyed. Ojwang’s death follows a pattern of abuse by Kenya’s police, with 20 custody deaths reported in the last four months. Amnesty International has called for a full, independent investigation.