Nationwide outrage as autopsy contradicts official version of events
Protests have broken out in Kenya’s capital Nairobi following the death of a young blogger in police custody, sparking a wave of anger over police brutality and alleged state repression.
Albert Omondi Ojwang, a popular social commentator, was arrested last week in Homa Bay in western Kenya after allegedly publishing defamatory information about the country’s deputy police chief. He was later transferred over 400km to Nairobi’s central police station, where he died in custody on Sunday.
Initial police statements claimed Ojwang died after “hitting his head against the cell wall”. However, a postmortem report by state pathologist Bernard Midla contradicted that claim, concluding that the cause of death was “head injury, neck compression, and multiple injuries across the body,” consistent with an assault.
Protesters clash with riot police
The official reversal has led to demonstrations across Nairobi, particularly near parliament, where protesters demanded justice and accountability. Riot police responded with tear gas and batons as tensions escalated. Several demonstrators clashed with officers amid burning vehicles and road blockades.
The protests coincided with the presentation of the national budget – a politically sensitive moment following last year’s anti-tax demonstrations, during which multiple activists were reported missing or killed.
Government acknowledges police responsibility
President William Ruto acknowledged publicly that Ojwang had died “at the hands of the police” and urged patience as investigations proceed. “Let us vigilantly follow the progress of the investigations without making premature judgments,” he said.
Interior minister Kipchumba Murkomen told the Senate that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority is leading the investigation and has named five officers involved in the arrest and transfer of Ojwang. He pledged “no interference” and “full accountability”.
A broader crisis of trust
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said the case highlights “a wider, deeply troubling pattern of deaths and abuses in police custody.” Human rights groups accuse the Ruto administration of increasingly using security forces to suppress dissent amid growing economic pressures and unpopular budget measures.
Finance minister John Mbadi is currently seeking new ways to raise revenue without sparking further unrest, as Kenya grapples with a debt-to-GDP ratio nearing 70%.
With outrage mounting and protests spreading beyond Nairobi, the death of Albert Ojwang has become a flashpoint in the country’s ongoing struggle over police accountability and freedom of expression.
