Three Kenyan police officers have been charged with the murder of 31-year-old blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang.
His death in police custody earlier this month triggered nationwide protests and renewed scrutiny of police brutality in Kenya.
Ojwang was arrested on June 6 at his home in Homa Bay, western Kenya, following a complaint by Deputy National Police Chief Eliud Lagat, who accused him of defamation on social media.
Ojwang was transported over 350 kilometers to Nairobi, where he was charged with publishing false information under cybercrime laws. Two days after his arrest, Ojwang was found unconscious in his cell at Nairobi’s Central Police Station and later pronounced dead.
Authorities initially claimed Ojwang died from self-inflicted injuries, alleging he had hit his head against the cell wall.
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However, a post-mortem conducted by a team of pathologists contradicted this, revealing serious head trauma, neck compression, and multiple soft tissue injuries consistent with assault, not suicide. Following public outcry and mounting evidence, police retracted their initial statement and apologized.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has approved murder charges against six individuals—three police officers and three civilians—in connection with Ojwang’s death.
Among those charged are police officers Samson Kiprotich, Talaam James Mukhwana, and Peter Kimani, as well as a CCTV technician accused of tampering with surveillance footage on the night Ojwang died. Eliud Lagat, the deputy police chief who filed the original complaint, has temporarily stepped down pending the outcome of investigations but denies any wrongdoing.
Ojwang’s death has ignited widespread protests across Kenya, with hundreds taking to the streets in Nairobi and Mombasa to demand justice and an end to police brutality.
Tensions escalated further after a street vendor, Boniface Kariuki, was shot and critically injured by police during a demonstration in Nairobi. Activists have called for a nationwide shutdown on Wednesday, coinciding with the anniversary of last year’s deadly crackdown on anti-tax protests.
Ojwang’s case has become a flashpoint for public frustration with Kenya’s security forces, who have long faced accusations of operating with impunity.
President William Ruto has acknowledged the gravity of the situation, calling Ojwang’s death “heartbreaking and unacceptable,” and has pledged a thorough investigation. Calls for accountability and police reform are mounting as the country grapples with recurring incidents of police violence.
Source: Africafeeds.com
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
