Latest news with #Lagat
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kenya to charge police officers with murder over blogger's death in custody
NAIROBI (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.
Straits Times
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Kenya to charge police officers with murder over blogger's death in custody
Kenya to charge police officers with murder over blogger's death in custody NAIROBI - 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. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
TimesLIVE
23-06-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Kenya to charge police officers with murder over blogger's death in custody
Kenyan prosecutors said on Monday they had 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 after 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 against 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 against 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.
The Star
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Kenya to charge police officers with murder over blogger's death in custody
FILE PHOTO: Civil society activists hold placards as they demonstrate against the death of Kenyan blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody, in the city of Mombasa, Kenya June 17, 2025. REUTERS/Laban Walloga/File Photo NAIROBI (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. (Reporting by Humphrey Malalo; Writing by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Aaron Ross and Bill Berkrot)
AFP
20-06-2025
- AFP
Unrelated image of injured man falsely linked to death of Kenyan killed in police custody
'A photo of Albert Ojwang when he was alive. Has resurfaced at the Central Police Station reception. His shirt was torn, and he was bleeding from the head (sic),' reads an X post published on June 9, 2025, and shared more than 600 times. Show Hide Content warning Show Image Screenshot of the false post, taken on June 18, 2025 Hide The image shows a man with a bloodied face and a torn shirt standing with his head tilted upwards. Similar claims were published elsewhere on X here and here. Fatal arrest Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher, was reportedly arrested on June 6, 2025, in Western Kenya, and transported to the central police station in Kenya's capital Nairobi. He was accused of criticising deputy inspector general Eliud Lagat on social media (archived here). He was reported dead two days later, with police initially claiming he died after hitting his head against a cell wall. However, a pathologist's report indicated injuries consistent with assault (archived here). Ojwang's death sparked public outrage, which resulted in protests demanding justice and Lagat's resignation (archived here and here). Lagat has since announced he would 'step aside' from his position amid ongoing investigations. Additionally, two police officers and a technician accused of tampering with CCTV footage at the station have been arrested in connection with Ojwang's death (archived here and here). However, the posts purportedly showing an image of Ojwang at the station before he died are false. Unrelated image AFP Fact Check conducted reverse image searches and found the original image published on Facebook by ex-Kakamega county senator Cleophas Malala on June 9, 2025, alongside claims that his driver was assaulted by police (archived here). 'The Kakamega OCPD - a one MR. ROTICH and three other uniformed officers trailed my vehicle and forced my driver to stop,' he wrote. '*Disappointingly, upon confirming I was not on board, they commanded him to drive to an unknown destination. When he refused, they assaulted him so severely using a gun pointer that he was left profusely bleeding (sic).' 'This is unconscionable brutality by those sworn to protect us,' he continued. 'Our nation sinks deeper into lawlessness when officers become perpetrators. We will not be intimidated—we are formally filing a complaint with IPOA (Independent Policing Oversight Authority).' The incident was also reported by local media (archived here and here).
