Latest news with #EliudLagat
Reuters
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Kenya to charge police officers with murder over blogger's death in custody
NAIROBI, June 23 (Reuters) - Kenyan prosecutors said on Monday they approved murder charges against six people, including three police officers, for their role in killing a political blogger whose death in police custody sparked large protests. Kenya's Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said in a statement that the six suspects would be arraigned on Tuesday. One of the police officers was the commander at the station where Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old blogger and teacher, was held in Nairobi. It was not immediately clear whether the defendants were represented by counsel. Ojwang died earlier this month following his arrest as part of an investigation triggered by a complaint by the deputy national police chief, Eliud Lagat. Lagat had filed a formal complaint about allegedly false and malicious information published about him on social media, according to the state-funded police watchdog. Police initially attributed Ojwang's death to suicide but apologised after an autopsy found that his wounds were the result of assault. Ojwang's death prompted hundreds to protest police brutality over the past two weeks. Additional demonstrations are expected on Wednesday, which will also mark the one-year anniversary of a mass protest that culminated in the storming of parliament and several deaths by police gunfire. Kenyan activists who have been protesting Ojwang's death immediately accused prosecutors of engaging in a cover-up by only charging low-level officers. Lagat, who has denied any wrongdoing, stepped down temporarily from his post last week pending completion of the investigation into Ojwang's death. One of the other officers charged with murder, James Mukhwana, told investigators that his superiors told him there was "an order from above" to have Ojwang roughed up when he came into the station, according to a copy of his testimony seen by Reuters. Reuters has not been able to reach Lagat directly for comment and the National Police Service declined to provide comment on his behalf.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Police officers charged with murder of Kenyan blogger
Three police officers in Kenya have been charged with the murder of a 31-year-old blogger who died in police custody earlier this month. Albert Ojwang's death has sparked outrage in Kenya with protests held to demand justice. Mr Ojwang was arrested after Kenya's deputy police chief Eliud Lagat filed a complaint, accusing the blogger of defaming him on social media. Mr Lagat stepped aside last week pending the outcome of investigations into Ojwang's death. He has denied any wrongdoing. The three police officers - Samson Kiprotich, Talaam James Mukhwana and Peter Kimani - were charged along with three civilians. All six appeared in court on Monday, but have not yet pleaded. Police initially said that Mr Ojwang died of self-inflicted wounds, but were forced to retract the statement after an autopsy found that he was likely to have died from assault wounds. A street vendor was shot during a demonstration last week in the capital, Nairobi, over Mr Ojwang's death, sparking renewed outrage from Kenyans who accuse police of using excessive force against protesters. Boniface Kariuki was reportedly selling masks when a uniformed police officer fired a bullet at close range, critically injuring him. Activists have called for a "total shutdown" of the economy on Wednesday as they step up protests against police brutality, and mark a year since the security forces opened fire on crowds protesting against an increases in taxes. BBC identifies security forces who shot Kenya anti-tax protesters Batons, tear gas, live fire - Kenyans face police brutality WATCH: Inside the world of Kenya's 'killer cop' Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa
BBC News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Albert Ojwang's death: Kenyan police officers charged with blogger
Three police officers in Kenya have been charged with the murder of a 31-year-old blogger who died in police custody earlier this Ojwang's death has sparked outrage in Kenya with protests held to demand justice. Mr Ojwang was arrested after Kenya's deputy police chief Eliud Lagat filed a complaint, accusing the blogger of defaming him on social media. Mr Lagat stepped aside last week pending the outcome of investigations into Ojwang's death. He has denied any wrongdoing. The three police officers - Samson Kiprotich, Talaam James Mukhwana and Peter Kimani - were charged along with three civilians. All six appeared in court on Monday, but have not yet pleaded. Police initially said that Mr Ojwang died of self-inflicted wounds, but were forced to retract the statement after an autopsy found that he was likely to have died from assault wounds.A street vendor was shot during a demonstration last week in the capital, Nairobi, over Mr Ojwang's death, sparking renewed outrage from Kenyans who accuse police of using excessive force against Kariuki was reportedly selling masks when a uniformed police officer fired a bullet at close range, critically injuring have called for a "total shutdown" of the economy on Wednesday as they step up protests against police brutality, and mark a year since the security forces opened fire on crowds protesting against an increases in taxes. More BBC stories on Kenya protests: BBC identifies security forces who shot Kenya anti-tax protestersBatons, tear gas, live fire - Kenyans face police brutalityWATCH: Inside the world of Kenya's 'killer cop' Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Protesters clash wit men wey carry weapon for Kenya over di death of one blogger for police custody
Kenyan protesters don clash wit young men wey carry weapon - club - wey dey loyal to di government, for di centre of di capital, Nairobi. Di demonstration dey hapun afta di death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang for police custody 10 days ago, dem dey demand for di sacking of di top police officer. Police bin tok say Ojwang die of self-inflicted wounds, but dem retract di statement afta autopsy find say e likely die afta assault. Dem don arrest two policemen in connection wit di death. Di protest comes as tension dey ahead of di first anniversary of di parliament demonstrators. Earlier on Tuesday, violence hapun for di capital central business district wen groups of young men wey dey ride motorbikes, armed wit whips and clubs, attack protesters. Videos show say di men bin dey like dem dey work side-by-side wit police, wey fire teargas to try and scata di demonstrations. Reuters news agency don report say dia staff see di body of one man on di street wit head wound. Police tok-tok pesin for Kenya don tok say im dey unaware of di death. Dem don deploy officers across key parts of di city, in an attempt to block protesters from accessing major intersections and government buildings. Deputy police chief Eliud Lagat don step aside as investigation into Ojwang death continue. But activists want make dem comot am from office becos na im complaint against di blogger lead to di young man arrest. Dem accuse di 31-year-old of defaming Oga Lagat on social media. Di situation for Nairobi remain tense. Dem don shut down most business in di city centre and na only few pipo dey di streets. Last year, young Kenyans lead protest, against one unpopular finance bill wey dem wan use to introduce new taxes. Dem forcefully enta di parliament on 25 June and force di government make dem drop di controversial proposals. No tax measures dis year, but activists dey plan to build up momentum for wetin dem dey call "total shutdown" of business next Wednesday. Additional reporting by Akisa Wandera
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kenya protesters clash with men wielding clubs
Kenyan protesters have clashed with club-carrying young men, believed to be loyal to the government, in the centre of the capital, Nairobi. The demonstration, held in the wake of the death in custody 10 days ago of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang, was called to demand the sacking of a top police officer. Police initially said that Mr Ojwang died of self-inflicted wounds, but were forced to retract the statement after an autopsy found that it was likely he died after being assaulted. Two policemen have been arrested in connection with the death. The protest comes amid simmering tension ahead of next week's first anniversary of the storming of parliament by demonstrators. Earlier on Tuesday, there were pockets of violence in the capital's central business district when groups of young men riding motorbikes, armed with whips and clubs, attacked protesters. Videos show the men seemingly working side-by-side with police, who fired teargas to try and disrupt the demonstrations. The Reuters news agency is reporting that its staff saw the body of one man on the street with a head wound. Kenya's police spokesman has said he was unaware of the death. Officers had been deployed across key parts of the city, in an attempt to block protesters from accessing major intersections and government buildings. Deputy police chief Eliud Lagat has stepped aside as an investigation into Mr Ojwang's death is under way. But activists want him removed from office as it was his complaint against the blogger that led to the young man's arrest. The 31-year-old was accused of defaming Mr Lagat on social media. The situation in Nairobi remains tense. Most businesses in the city centre are shut and there are visibly fewer people than usual on the streets. Last year's protests, led by young Kenyans, were against an unpopular finance bill which sought to introduce new taxes. It culminated in the protesters entering parliament on 25 June and forced the government to drop the controversial proposals. There are no contentious tax measures this year, but activists plan to build up momentum to what they are calling "a total shutdown" of business next Wednesday. Additional reporting by Akisa Wandera BBC identifies security forces who shot Kenya anti-tax protesters Batons, tear gas, live fire - Kenyans face police brutality Why Kenya's president has so many nicknames Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa
