Latest news with #justiceforOjwang
The Independent
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Kenyan police officer in charge of cell where blogger died arrested after protests
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.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
Albert Ojwang's death: Kenyan constable James Mukhwana in court in connection with killing
A Kenyan police officer has appeared in court after being arrested in connection with the killing of a young blogger in police custody. Albert Ojwang's death sparked protests in the capital, Nairobi, after doctors refuted a police claim that he had died from self-inflicted injuries caused by hitting his head on a cell wall. Instead they concluded that it was likely the result of an least 23 people, including 17 police officers, have been questioned and five others removed from active duty while an independent investigation takes place. After his initial court appearance, PC James Mukhwana will remain in custody until his bail hearing an a week's investigations allege that the constable, together with other suspects still at large, "was likely involved in the planning and execution" of Mr Ojwang's killing, court papers submitted by detectives said. PC Mukhwana officer is also alleged to have been involved in tampering with CCTV cameras at Nairobi's Central Police Station in an attempt to cover-up the killing. The policeman is yet to respond to the accusations but his lawyer asked the court to grant him bail saying the constable willingly submitted himself to the authorities when summoned. Mr Ojwang, 31, died in police custody last weekend after he was arrested over a post on X that was allegedly critical of Deputy Inspector-General of Police Eliud an initial statement, police said Mr Ojwang was found unconscious in his cell and rushed him to a city hospital, where he succumbed to head injuries allegedly sustained from banging his head against the an autopsy report and an investigation by the police watchdog, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), ruled out the possibility that Mr Ojwang might have killed of Police Douglas Kanja has since retracted the earlier statement and apologised for what he called "misinformation" from his on Friday arrested a technician who is suspected to have disabled the surveillance system in Central Police Station, effectively obscuring potential evidence on Mr Ojwang's killing, local media reported. On Thursday, hundreds of protesters angered by the killing took to the streets of Nairobi calling for the resignation of Deputy Inspector-General is facing mounting pressure from the public, opposition leaders and civil society groups to step aside or be William Ruto has called for a swift investigation, and promised on Friday that his government would "protect citizens from rogue police officers".Ruto had pledged to end Kenya's history of police brutality and extrajudicial deaths when he came into power in nearly 160 cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances were reported across Kenya last year, according to the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC).At least 20 people have died while held by police in the past four months alone, according to the IPOA. You may also be interested in: BBC identifies security forces who shot Kenya anti-tax protestersBatons, tear gas, live fire - Kenyans face police brutalityWhy Kenya's president has so many nicknamesThe 'tax collector' president sparking Kenyan anger Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Police fire tear gas on crowds protesting Kenya blogger's death in custody
Protesters took to the streets of Kenya's capital Nairobi to express their fury over the death of a blogger arrested by police last week, as the country's police watchdog reported that 20 people had died in custody over the last four months. Police used tear gas to disperse crowds gathered close to the capital's parliamentary building on Thursday to protest against the death of Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old blogger arrested in the western town of Homa Bay last week for criticising the country's deputy police chief Eliud Lagat. Police had initially said Ojwang died 'after hitting his head against a cell wall', but pathologist Bernard Midia, part of a team that conducted an autopsy, said the wounds – including a head injury, neck compression and soft tissue damage – pointed to assault as the cause of death. On Wednesday, President William Ruto admitted Ojwang had died 'at the hands of the police', reversing earlier official accounts of his death, saying in a statement that it was 'heartbreaking and unacceptable'. Kenyan media outlets reported on Thursday that a police constable had been arrested over Ojwang's death. Reporting from the protests in Nairobi, Al Jazeera's Malcolm Webb said that Ojwang, who wrote about political and social issues, had posted online about Lagat's alleged role in a 'bribery scandal', in which the deputy police chief had already been implicated by a newspaper investigation. 'It's angered people that he was detained for that, and then days later, dead in a police station,' said Webb, who added that people were calling for Lagat to be held to account, and 'persisting in throwing stones at the police in spite of one volley of tear gas after the next being fired at them'. The case has shone a light on the country's security services, who have been accused of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances for years. On Thursday, Independent Policing Oversight Authority chairperson Issak Hassan told lawmakers that there had been '20 deaths in police custody in the last four months'. The authorities are now conducting an official investigation into Ojwang's death. On Wednesday, Inspector General Douglas Kanja apologised for police having previously implied that Ojwang died by suicide, telling a Senate hearing: 'He did not hit his head against the wall.' Ojwang's death comes almost a year after several activists and protesters were killed and taken by police during finance bill protests – many are still missing. The rallies led to calls for the removal of Ruto, who was criticised for the crackdown. Amnesty International said Ojwang's death in custody on Saturday 'must be urgently, thoroughly and independently investigated'.
CTV News
a day ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Protesters in Kenya's capital demand official answers over a blogger's death in police custody
A protester scuffles with a police officer during a protest over the death in police custody of blogger Albert Ojwang, in Nairobi, Kenya, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku) NAIROBI, Kenya — Protesters took to the streets of the Kenyan capital on Thursday to vent their anger over the death of a blogger in police custody. Albert Ojwang was arrested June 6 in Homa Bay in western Kenya and driven 400 kilometres (248 miles) to Nairobi for what police said was publishing 'false information' about a top police official on social media. He subsequently died at the Central Police Station after 'hitting his head against the cell wall,' police said. Amnesty International and local activists have questioned that account. The protesters occupied the road in Nairobi leading to the parliamentary building, where the national budget was due to be presented Thursday. At least two cars were set on fire in a street nearby. Police on Monday fired tear gas to disperse another protest demanding accountability for Ojwang's death. Authorities have since said an official investigation is underway. President William Ruto in a statement on Wednesday said Ojwang's death was 'heartbreaking and unacceptable.' 'I strongly condemn the actions and omissions, including any negligence or outright criminality, that may have contributed to his untimely death,' Ruto said. 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. ___ Evelyne Musambi, The Associated Press
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Protesters in Kenya's capital demand official answers over a blogger's death in police custody
Protesters took to the streets of the Kenyan capital on Thursday to vent their anger over the death of a blogger in police custody. Albert Ojwang was arrested June 5 in Homa Bay 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 subsequently died at the Central Police Station after 'hitting his head against the cell wall,' police said. Amnesty International and local activists have questioned that account. The protesters occupied the road in Nairobi leading to the parliamentary building, where the national budget was due to be presented Thursday. At least two cars were set on fire in a street nearby. Police on Monday fired tear gas to disperse another protest demanding accountability for Ojwang's death. Authorities have since said an official investigation is underway. President William Ruto in a statement on Wednesday said Ojwang's death was 'heartbreaking and unacceptable." 'I strongly condemn the actions and omissions, including any negligence or outright criminality, that may have contributed to his untimely death,' Ruto said. 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.
