Kenyan President William Ruto has condemned the death of 31-year-old Albert Ojwang in police custody, a case that has ignited nationwide outrage and drawn comparisons to last year’s anti-government protests that left scores dead.
Ojwang, a blogger from western Kenya, was arrested last week after sharing a social media post accusing Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Eliud Kipkoech Lagat, of corruption.
He was transferred to the Central Police Station in Nairobi where he reportedly died over the weekend under mysterious circumstances.
While police initially claimed Ojwang had fatally injured himself by banging his head against a cell wall, an autopsy conducted by a government pathologist raised serious concerns — describing the injuries as “unlikely to be self-inflicted.”
“This tragic occurrence, at the hands of police, is heartbreaking and unacceptable,” President Ruto said in a statement on Wednesday, calling for a swift, transparent, and credible investigation. “No one should die in the custody of those tasked with protecting us.”
The incident has sparked online uproar and triggered small but growing protests in Nairobi, coming at a sensitive time as the country approaches the one-year anniversary of deadly demonstrations against rising taxes and deep-rooted corruption.
At least 60 people were killed during those protests, with rights groups accusing security forces of excessive violence and enforced disappearances.
Police Chief Douglas Kanja appeared before the Senate to explain that Ojwang had been detained for publishing a fake newspaper cover accusing Lagat of corruption and branding him “The Mafia Cop.”
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Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen pledged justice, saying the government was committed to holding all responsible parties accountable.
Five police officers have so far been suspended from duty pending the outcome of the investigation.
Meanwhile, human rights organizations continue to raise alarm over the broader state of civil liberties in Kenya.
They report that many who participated in last year’s protests remain unaccounted for, while others face charges for merely criticizing government officials.
Photos from recent demonstrations show emotional scenes outside police headquarters in Nairobi, where citizens gathered with placards demanding answers and justice for Ojwang.
As Kenya reflects on a tumultuous year of political unrest and rising discontent, Ojwang’s death has become a stark symbol of the unresolved tensions between the state and its people.