The death of Albert Ojwang while in police custody has ignited nationwide anger and renewed scrutiny of police conduct in Kenya.
Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher based in Voi, was arrested on Saturday, 7th June, in Homa Bay, his home county, for allegedly making derogatory remarks on social media about a senior government official.
He was later transferred to Central Police Station in Nairobi. The following morning, he was rushed to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Initial reports by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja indicated that Ojwang had died by suicide, allegedly sustaining head injuries after hitting a cell wall. However, a postmortem conducted by lead government pathologist Dr Bernard Midia contradicted that claim.
“Soft tissue injuries were observed on the body, and there were signs of neck compression,” Dr Midia said on Tuesday. “These injuries are consistent with external assault, and there were also signs of a struggle.”
Public concern intensified after it emerged that the complainant in Ojwang’s case was Deputy Inspector General Eliud Kipkoech Lagat, who had filed a defamation complaint against him.
“There was a complaint that had been launched by the DIG KPS about his name being tarnished,” said IG Kanja during a Monday press briefing. “It is on that basis that investigations were being carried out because he also has a right to be protected by the same law.”
Following news of the death, demonstrators gathered outside Nairobi City Mortuary on Monday, holding placards and chanting “Stop killing us” in protest. Online, thousands of Kenyans expressed their grief and outrage, calling for justice and accountability.
The Digital Content Creators Association of Kenya issued a statement mourning Ojwang:
“Albert was more than a content creator – he was a voice of the youth, a symbol of resilience, and an embodiment of the dreams and hopes of a generation that uses digital platforms to inspire change. His legacy will not be silenced.”
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Ojwang’s death has once again drawn attention to the rising number of alleged cases of police brutality and abuse in the country. A joint report by the International Justice Mission (IJM), Amnesty International Kenya, and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) found that at least 104 people died as a result of police-related killings and 55 went missing over the past year alone.
Further, data from the Missing Voices coalition — a consortium of civil society groups that monitors extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances — revealed that 352 Kenyans have been killed by police since 2022.
Between June and December 2024, at least 82 people, mostly young protesters, were abducted from their homes, public transport, or the streets. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has also flagged the rising trend as deeply concerning.
According to IJM, at least one in three Kenyans report having experienced police abuse or harassment.
The incident has placed the Kenya Kwanza government under renewed pressure, especially in light of last year’s Gen Z-led protests, during which several young people reported being abducted or assaulted.
President William Ruto has since condemned Ojwang’s death and offered condolences to his family.
“As we mourn his passing, let us patiently but vigilantly follow the progress of the investigations without making premature judgments,” said Ruto, who has directed the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to launch an immediate investigation into the case.
He also reiterated that all those allegedly abducted during the protests had been safely returned home, assuring Kenyans that such incidents would not recur. However, for many, those assurances ring hollow.
Rights groups and citizens alike continue to demand not just answers but action, urging the state to end the culture of impunity and restore public trust in the security services.
– By Anthony Mwangi
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