AfricaLink News: June 10 – DW – 06/10/2025
06/10/2025
June 10, 2025
Calls to protest intensify in light of Kenyan blogger's death +++ Chimpanzees with unique habits discovered in Uganda +++ Convoy of activists sets off from Tunisia in protest of situation in Gaza +++
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eNCA
3 hours ago
- eNCA
Second officer arrested over Kenya custody death
A second officer has been arrested in connection with the death of a teacher in custody in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, the police watchdog said Friday, a case that has sparked nationwide outrage. Albert Ojwang, 31, died in custody last weekend after being arrested for criticising a senior officer online. Police initially said Ojwang had fatally injured himself by banging his head against a wall, but a government pathologist later found the wounds were "unlikely to be self-inflicted". His death has reignited anger over a wave of abductions and heavy-handed policing during anti-government protests last year. Protesters marched on parliament on Thursday, some throwing stones and police firing tear gas. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) watchdog said in a statement that Samson Talaam, the head of the central Nairobi police station where the incident occurred, had been arrested along with an unnamed civilian. A police official confirmed to AFP that Talaam had been arrested in the western city of Eldoret. Another officer from the same Nairobi station, Constable James Mukhwana, appeared in court earlier in a case under the charge of the IPOA. The watchdog asked for three weeks to complete its investigation, telling the court Mukhwana was present on the night Ojwang was processed by officers. Earlier in the week, police spokesman Michael Muchiri said five officers had been removed from active duty, to "allow for transparent investigations". President William Ruto has called for a swift investigation, and promised on Friday that the government would "protect citizens from rogue police officers". The IPOA recently reported 18 people had died in police custody in the past four months. Protesters have called for the resignation of Deputy Inspector-General Eliud Kipkoech Lagat -- the officer Ojwang was accused of criticising.
5 hours ago
Kenyan police officer in charge of cell where blogger died arrested after protests
NAIROBI, Kenya -- Kenyan authorities on Friday arrested a senior police officer responsible for the cell where a blogger died, leading to widespread protests in the capital, Nairobi, that left dozens injured. Samson Talam, the officer commanding the central police station in Nairobi was arrested on Friday, and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority said that CCTV at the police station had been tampered with and its disks formatted a day after the blogger died inside the cell. Albert Ojwang, 31, was arrested on June 6 in western Kenya and driven 400 kilometers (248 miles) to Nairobi for what police said was publishing 'false information' about a top police official on social media. He died two days later at the police cell and police said he hit his head against the wall. A pathologist's report refuted the police account, stating that the deceased had 'head injury, neck compression and other injuries spread all over the body that are pointing towards assault.' The arrest comes a day after the detention of another officer from the central police station. James Mukhwana was arrested Thursday in connection with the blogger's death. He appeared in court Friday, where detectives requested for more time for their investigation. Ojwang's death led to protests on Thursday that turned violent as police clashed with protesters injuring several and leading a trail of property destruction. President William Ruto on Friday said his government would 'protect citizens from rogue police officers' and he called for investigations into Ojwang's death. Kenya has a history of police brutality and Ruto had vowed to end brutality and extrajudicial killings. The blogger's death comes almost a year after several activists and protesters were killed and abducted by Kenyan police during finance bill protests. The rallies led to calls for the removal of Ruto, who has been criticized for what some say is his authoritarian streak.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Second officer arrested over Kenya custody death
A second officer has been arrested in connection with the death of a teacher in custody in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, the police watchdog said Friday, a case that has sparked nationwide outrage. Albert Ojwang, 31, died in custody last weekend after being arrested for criticising a senior officer online. Police initially said Ojwang had fatally injured himself by banging his head against a wall, but a government pathologist later found the wounds were "unlikely to be self-inflicted". His death has reignited anger over a wave of abductions and heavy-handed policing during anti-government protests last year. Protesters marched on parliament on Thursday, some throwing stones and police firing tear gas. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) watchdog said in a statement that Samson Talaam, the head of the central Nairobi police station where the incident occurred, had been arrested along with an unnamed civilian. A police official confirmed to AFP that Talaam had been arrested in the western city of Eldoret. Another officer from the same Nairobi station, Constable James Mukhwana, appeared in court earlier in a case under the charge of the IPOA. The watchdog asked for three weeks to complete its investigation, telling the court Mukhwana was present on the night Ojwang was processed by officers. Earlier in the week, police spokesman Michael Muchiri said five officers had been removed from active duty, to "allow for transparent investigations". President William Ruto has called for a swift investigation, and promised on Friday that the government would "protect citizens from rogue police officers". The IPOA recently reported 18 people had died in police custody in the past four months. Protesters have called for the resignation of Deputy Inspector-General Eliud Kipkoech Lagat -- the officer Ojwang was accused of criticising. Rights groups say dozens of people were illegally detained in the aftermath of last year's rallies, with many still missing, and others have been arrested for criticism of Ruto and the government. str-srg/jxb
