A wave of public anger swept through Nairobi’s CBD as Kenyans marched to demand justice for Albert Ojwang, a blogger who died in police custody under suspicious circumstances. The protests follow confirmation that Ojwang’s death was caused by police violence, prompting fresh calls for accountability and reform within Kenya’s law enforcement.
Highlights:
- Albert Ojwang, 31, died from injuries sustained while in police custody.
- Protesters gathered near Nairobi’s Central Police Station to demand justice.
- Police responded with tear gas as tensions rose in the CBD.
- IPOA has launched an investigation; five officers have been suspended.
- President Ruto called the incident “heartbreaking and unacceptable.”
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Albert Ojwang, a popular blogger and social media commentator, was arrested on June 5. Days later, he was pronounced dead. Initial police claims that Ojwang hit his head on a wall were quickly disputed by a post-mortem report, which confirmed his injuries were consistent with blunt force trauma and strangulation.
Protesters gathered in the heart of Nairobi, demanding answers. Dressed in white and holding placards, the demonstrators chanted Ojwang’s name and condemned police brutality. The peaceful protest turned chaotic when police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.
President William Ruto, responding to the mounting pressure, acknowledged that Ojwang “died at the hands of police.” Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki confirmed that five officers involved in the incident have been suspended pending investigations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
Human rights organizations argue that Ojwang’s death is not an isolated case. They link it to a disturbing pattern of police excesses, including abductions and violent crackdowns during past protests. Advocates are calling for structural reforms and stronger oversight of the National Police Service.
Albert Ojwang’s death has struck a national nerve, turning grief into activism—and raising a powerful question: how many more must fall before justice takes root?
