A Kenyan police officer has been arrested in connection with the death of 31-year-old political blogger Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody, igniting widespread protests, national outrage, and international condemnation. Ojwang was arrested in Homa Bay, western Kenya, after allegedly criticizing the country’s deputy police chief, Eliud Lagat. He died two days later under suspicious circumstances that have reignited long-standing concerns over police brutality and extrajudicial killings in Kenya.
Initial police reports claimed Ojwang had fatally injured himself by banging his head against a cell wall, but an autopsy contradicted this narrative. Government and independent pathologists found signs of blunt force trauma, neck compression, and soft tissue injuries that were deemed “unlikely to be self-inflicted,” strongly suggesting he was assaulted. In a dramatic reversal of official accounts, President William Ruto publicly acknowledged on Wednesday that Ojwang died “at the hands of the police,” as pressure mounted both locally and internationally.
Following the revelation, Kenya’s Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) launched an investigation, although it has yet to comment publicly. Meanwhile, police spokesperson Michael Muchiri confirmed the arrest of a constable while declining to provide further details. Five officers were earlier suspended to enable what authorities termed a “transparent” inquiry into Ojwang’s death.
Public fury erupted as thousands of protesters took to the streets of Nairobi on Thursday, waving Kenyan flags and chanting “Lagat must go,” calling for the resignation of the deputy police chief whom Ojwang had criticized before his arrest. Clashes broke out between demonstrators and police, with officers firing tear gas at crowds. The protests have drawn parallels to previous crackdowns, including the brutal suppression of antigovernment demonstrations in 2024, which saw dozens detained and many reportedly still missing.
President Ruto on Friday promised swift action and reiterated his government’s stance against rogue law enforcement behavior. However, human rights organizations continue to accuse his administration of protecting security agencies from accountability, despite repeated promises to end enforced disappearances and police abuses.
The tragic death of Albert Ojwang, a prominent online political commentator, has become a flashpoint in Kenya’s ongoing struggle with police reform and human rights. According to IPOA, at least 20 people have died in police custody over the past four months, underscoring systemic issues within the force. The United States and European Union have both called for a full, transparent, and independent investigation into Ojwang’s death, adding international pressure to Kenya’s already volatile situation.
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