Kenyan police fire teargas at protesters after death of blogger in custody
NAIROBI, June 17 (Reuters) - Kenyan police fired teargas at protesters in the capital Nairobi on Tuesday, a Reuters witness said, after the death in custody of a blogger cast a spotlight on alleged extrajudicial killings by security forces.
Clashes also broke out in downtown Nairobi as unidentified motorcyclists beat up protesters, dispersing them, the Reuters witness said. Local broadcaster NTV showed video of the bikers shouting "No protests."
Amnesty International's Kenya chapter, in a post on X on Tuesday, referred to the presence of dozens of motorbikes, with two hooded passengers "whipping protesters and members of the public."
Reuters could not immediately ascertain who the motorcyclists were.
Kenya's police spokesperson could not be immediately reached for comment on the clashes.
Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher and blogger, was declared dead earlier this month just two days after he was arrested, with police initially saying he had committed suicide.
Kenya's police chief later apologised after an independent autopsy found Ojwang's wounds pointed to assault as the cause of death. President William Ruto said Ojwang had died "at the hands of the police" which was "heartbreaking and unacceptable."
Ojwang was arrested as part of an investigation triggered by a formal complaint by deputy police chief Eliud Lagat, according to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority watchdog.
The demonstrations over Ojwang's death reflect wider public concerns that nothing has changed one year after more than 60 people were killed during protests initially sparked by proposed tax increases.
Kenyan broadcaster Citizen TV said demonstrations also erupted in Kenya's second-largest city Mombasa on Tuesday, and showed protesters shouting slogans and holding placards saying "Stop killing us" and "Ruto must stop killing us."
Last week, hundreds of people demonstrated in Nairobi over the blogger's death, with vehicles set ablaze and police firing teargas at protesters. It was not certain who had set the vehicles on fire.
Lagat, the deputy police chief, said on Monday he had stepped aside temporarily, pending the completion of an investigation into Ojwang's death.
Two senior officers and a closed-circuit television (CCTV) technician, who had been called to dismantle the CCTV at the police station, have been arrested in connection with the investigation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
29 minutes ago
- BBC News
Police invite popular House On The Rock pastor to ansa question about viral video
Popular Nigerian pastor, Paul Adefarasin, don turn imsef in to di Lagos state police command to answer questions about one viral video wey show wia im hold object wey resemble firearm while driving. Police tok tok pesin Benjamin Hundeyin tell BBC Pidgin on Tuesday say na dem invite di pastor sake of di viral video. "We invite am and e honor di invite, e still dey wit us" na so Mr. Hundeyin tok. E say detectives dey interrogate di pastor and dem don commence investigation into di viral video wey show wia im hold gun-like object against anoda road user and dey drive car without plate number. Di video bin comot for social media two weeks ago and go viral. Di video show di pastor as e dey drive one SUV wey no carry plate number. E raise plenti dust as pipo begin question why pastor go dey carry fire arm. But Pastor Adefarasin bin debunk allegations say e carry firearm for di viral video. During Sunday service same week, Pastor Adefarasin react say no be gun im carri. "I dey assure you say dat tin no be firearm and I no point am on anybodi" na so e tok. According to am na clickbaiters attack am in order to make more money. E say "dem falsely accuse me say I carry firearm, say I point firearm on aggressive content creator wey come close into my personal space" Pastor Adefarasin further add say im no get pistol license to carry firearm, im no get firearm and I no point firearm on any pesin". After im response, some social media frenzy guys still feel say di pastor no clear di air properly as im no explain wetin im actually carry for di viral video. Wen BBC Pidgin ask police wen dem go release di pastor, di tok tok pesin answer say for now, im dey wit dem and e no wan speculate di outcome of im visit. Pastor Paul Adefarasin dey popular not only for Nigeria but across Africa and di world as im be di organizer of one of di biggest gospel music festival for Africa wey dem dey call The Experience. Im be di lead pastor of popular House on di Rock Church wey get branches for major cities across Nigeria.
BBC News
33 minutes ago
- BBC News
Blackpool police standards probe over footage of man's arrest
A police force has said it is looking into an incident in which a man was grabbed by the throat and forced to the ground by an officer on a night out in Blackpool. Colin Allan, 25, was in town for a wedding when the incident happened at about 02:00 BST on Saturday. The incident happened as police were handcuffing another man believed to have been part of the Lancashire Police has referred footage of the incident to its own internal watchdog, it said it had not referred it to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Mr Allan, from Glasgow, has since been charged with being drunk and told the BBC he intended to plead not guilty when the case went to court and that he had "lost all trust" in the police. Mr Allan was one of the group who had been out in pubs and bars along Blackpool promenade. The incident between the officers and Mr Allan - who was also charged with possession of cannabis - happened while he was filming the arrest of his friend on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly. He told the BBC: "[The officer] told me to get away and I said I wasn't going anywhere because I was videoing the incident and making sure my girlfriend's brother was safe."Mr Allan's sister, Anneliese Allan, who shared the video of the incident on social media, added: "The man is bigger and heavier than my brother, there was no need for the force that he used at all."A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "We are aware of this footage, and it has been referred to our professional standards department, who are reviewing it." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Independent
34 minutes ago
- The Independent
Kenyan police shoot protester at close range during latest protests over blogger's death
Kenyan police shot an apparent bystander at close range Tuesday during the latest protests over the killing of a blogger in custody earlier this month, sparking more fury among the public and demands for accountability. An Associated Press journalist saw the officer, who had concealed his face with a mask, shoot the unarmed man at close range with what appeared to be a shotgun. The man, who had been holding a packet of face masks, was believed to be a vendor caught up in a confrontation with two officers while standing on a Nairobi sidewalk. One officer shot him in the head as he walked away. The man was being treated at Kenya's largest referral government hospital, along with 10 others injured in the demonstration. The hospital spokesperson said the injuries included gunshot wounds. Police in a statement expressed concern and said the officer had been arrested. Hundreds of protesters on Tuesday clashed with police in the capital while demanding the arrest of the deputy inspector general of police, Eliud Langat, who had filed a defamation complaint against the blogger, Albert Ojwang. Ojwang was arrested on June 6 and died in custody. Langat on Monday said he had stepped aside to pave the way for investigations and would cooperate with investigating agencies. The officer commanding the Central Police Station where the blogger died, Samson Talam, and colleague James Mukhwana were arrested last week. Tuesday's protests turned violent after motorcycle riders accosted protesters and passersby, snatching phones and bags. Protesters set a motorcycle ablaze, and several riders and protesters were injured. Kenya has a history of police brutality, and President William Ruto previously vowed to end it, along with extrajudicial killings. Last year, several activists and protesters were abducted and killed by Kenyan police during finance bill protests. The demonstrations led to calls for Ruto's removal.
