Kenya's deputy police chief steps aside as blogger's death investigated
Kenya's deputy police chief stepped aside on Monday as investigations into the death of a blogger while in custody continue.
The death of Albert Ojwang, who was accused of defaming Deputy Inspector General Eliud Langat, sparked days of protests in Nairobi. Several demonstrators were injured and property destroyed.
Langat said on Monday that he was stepping aside 'in view of the ongoing investigations' into the death of Ojwang. He failed to acknowledge that he was the complainant.
'I undertake to provide any support that may be required of me during the investigations of the unfortunate incident," Langat said in a statement.
Langat's boss, Inspector General Douglas Kanja, previously said that investigations into Ojwang's online activities started after Langat filed an official complaint.
Ojwang was arrested on June 6 in western Kenya and driven 400 kilometers (248 miles) to Nairobi for publishing what police said was 'false information' on social media.
He was found dead two days later at the Central Police Station and police attributed his death to 'hitting his head against the cell wall.' A pathology report refuted the police account. It said the deceased had 'head injury, neck compression and other injuries spread all over the body that are pointing towards assault.'
The officer commanding the Central Police Station, Samson Talam, and his colleague, James Mukhwana, were arrested last week. The detectives leading the investigation requested more time to examine the case.
President William Ruto on Friday said that his government would 'protect citizens from rogue police officers' and called for investigations into Ojwang's death.
The blogger's death came almost a year after several activists and protesters were abducted and killed by Kenyan police during finance bill protests. The demonstrations led to calls for the removal of Ruto.
Kenya has a history of police brutality. Ruto previously vowed to end brutality and extrajudicial killings.
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Kenya deputy police chief step aside over di death of Albert Ojwang for police custody
Kenya Deputy Police Chief, Eliud Lagat, don step aside to allow for investigation into di death of Albert Ojwang, wey die for police custody. Lagat, announce di decision on Monday, as protesters dey demand for accountability and im immediate removal from office for days. "In di good and conscious thought of my role and responsibilities as di Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police Service, and in view of di ongoing investigation on di unfortunate incident of di death of Mr. Albert Ojwang. Today I don decide to step aside from di office of di Deputy Inspector General Kenya Police Service pending completion of investigations," e tok. Dem arrest di blogger and teacher, afta Lagat file formal complaint against am, accusing am of sharing defamatory content on di social media platform X. E die for police custody and autopsy don reveal say im die of from likely beatings. "Di cause of death dey very clear; head injury, neck compression and oda injuries spread all ova di body and dat dey point towards assault," state pathologist Bernard Midia tok. Dem detain di 31-year-old Ojwang afta di deputy police chief, accuse am say im tarnish im name on social media. Lagat don deny say im dey involved in di death but im tok say e go fully cooperate wit investigators. "I undertake to provide any support wey dey required of me during di investigations of di unfortunate incident," e tok. "I offer immense condolences to di family of Mr. Albert Ojwang for dia great loss." Until dem conclude di probe, Lagat no go get any access to im office, and na im deputy go handle im functions. Di move dey come as pressure dey, wit more demonstrations wey dey planned dis week by activists wey dey demand for independent and transparent investigation into di case. Kenya President Williams Ruto inside one statement on Wednesday tok say "di tragic occurrence for di hands of di police dey heart-breaking and unacceptable." "I strongly condemn di actions and omissions, wey include any negligence or outright criminality wey fit contribute to im untimely death," President Ruto tok. Di kontri leader call on di National Police Service to fully cooperate wit di Independent Policing Oversight Authority wey dey torchlight di mata, and make dem ensure transparent, and credible investigation into di death of Oga Ojwang. Di president assure say di truth about wetin really happun to Ojwang go come out soon, and justice go dey served. E also caution di public against making "premature judgments or drawing conclusions wey fit scata di process and its outcome". Wetin di autopsy show? Police arrest Oga Ojwang for Homa Bay, one town for western Kenya, on Friday, sake of one post e make on X wey allegedly dey critical of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat. Dem later transfer am go di capital, Nairobi, wey dey ova 350km (220 miles) from wia dem arrest am and book am for di Central Police Station on Saturday. Police tok say dem later find am unconscious for im cell wit injuries e do on imself (self-inflicted injuries). But one autopsy, wey five pathologists carry out and dem release unanimous report, reveal say Ojwang get severe head injuries and e suffer neck compression and multiple soft tissue trauma. Dr Midia, wey lead di team of pathologists, tok say Mr Ojwang no hit imself on di wall, as police bin tok for statement on Sunday. E say if Ojwang bin injure imsef, di pattern of injuries for dey different, and dem go see frontal bleeding on im head. "But di bleeds wey we see on di scalp… for di skin of di head no dey togeda, including on di face, sides of di head and for di back of di head," Dr Midia tok for one press conference. "Multiple soft tissue injuries also dey wey spread all ova di body, including for di head, neck, upper limbs plus di trunk and lower limbs... these na injuries from attack," e add. Di injuries dey consistent wit "external assault" and signs of struggle also dey, according to pathologists. Inside one initial statement, police tok say Ojwang "bin sustain head injuries afta e hit im head against one cell wall" for custody. However, Ojwang family lawyer, Julius Juma, tok say di body show signs of severe physical trauma, wey include swelling on di head, nose and ears. Oga Juma also say im see bruises on Ojwang shoulders and hands - injuries wey e say no dey consistent wit one single impact against a wall. Speaking at a press conference, Inspector General Douglas Kanja tok say di police go give di investigators all "necessary support" to solve di case. Dem find Ojwang unconscious during one routine inspection of di cells and dem "rush am go hospital, wia dem pronounce am dead on arrival", police tok. Di director of Amnesty International Kenya branch, Irungu Houghton, tell BBC say Ojwang death dey "very suspicious". Oga Houghton tok say e dey "quite shocking" say dem no book Ojwang for di local police station afta dem detain am, but instead dem carry am on long journey. On Sunday, 8 June, e call on independent investigators to secure wetin e describe as "di crime scene" for di police station for Nairobi. Ojwang death for detention dey come at a time of rising concern on top how dem dey treat some goment critics. Last week, software developer Rose Njeri, wey create one tool to help pipo oppose one goment finance bill, dem sama am charge wit accuse say she violate cybercrime law. She deny di charge.
