Widespread protests have erupted across Kenya following the death of 31-year-old teacher and activist Albert Ojwang in police custody, a case that has reignited public fury over police brutality and suppression of dissent.
Ojwang, a prominent social media activist and vocal critic of the government, died under suspicious circumstances last weekend, sparking demands for justice, accountability, and an end to targeted harassment of activists.
Kenya’s National Police Service initially claimed that Ojwang died after “hitting his head against the cell wall”, labeling it a case of self-inflicted injury. However, that narrative unraveled after a team of five government pathologists, led by Dr. Bernard Midia, conducted an autopsy and concluded that Ojwang suffered “serious injuries to the head, signs of neck compression, and multiple soft tissue injuries spread all over his body.”
“The pattern of the injuries points toward assault,” Midia said, adding that it was “unlikely to be self-inflicted.”
Following the report, Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja retracted the initial police statement and publicly apologized before Parliament’s National Security Committee.
“It is not true… he did not hit his head against the wall,” Kanja admitted. “I tender my apology on behalf of the National Police Service for that misinformation.”
Ojwang was arrested last Friday on charges of “false publication” after allegedly accusing Deputy Police Inspector Eliud Lagat of corruption on X (formerly Twitter). By Sunday, he was found unconscious in his cell, police said.
His last known communication, according to Amnesty Kenya, was a plea for bail.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched a formal investigation. Six police officers have been placed under scrutiny, and public pressure is mounting for the removal of Deputy Inspector Lagat, who filed the initial complaint against Ojwang.
Outrage over Ojwang’s death spilled into the streets this week, with protesters clashing with police in Nairobi on Thursday. Officers deployed teargas in an attempt to disperse demonstrators, but the unrest continues to grow, driven by public frustration over a pattern of intimidation, disappearances, and deaths of government critics.
“The youth are angry. They’re tired of being silenced,” one protester told local media. “Ojwang’s death is the last straw.”
The protests echo last year’s demonstrations, which forced the government to withdraw a deeply unpopular finance bill. Many young Kenyans see Ojwang’s death as part of a broader crackdown on dissent and freedom of expression.
President Ruto Reacts
Kenyan President William Ruto issued a strongly worded statement on Wednesday, describing the news of Ojwang’s death as “heartbreaking and unacceptable.”
“This tragic occurrence, at the hands of the police, is heartbreaking and unacceptable,” the president said. “I call for a swift, transparent, and credible investigation.”
As investigations continue, public trust in Kenya’s security agencies is under renewed scrutiny. Civil society groups, opposition leaders, and international observers are calling for an independent inquiry, prosecution of those responsible, and systemic police reform.
Albert Ojwang’s name now joins a growing list of Kenyan citizens whose deaths in custody have triggered national outrage, a stark reminder of the urgent need for transparency and accountability in law enforcement.
Source: CNN
