Kenya Police officer arrested amid Albert Ojwang's death protests: Complete updates

A Kenyan Police officer was arrested after protests ignited over Albert Ojwang's death.

On Saturday, June 7, Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher and political blogger, based in Voi, was arrested in Homa Bay, his home county, and then transferred to Central Police Station in Nairobi. The arrest came in response to alleged insulting remarks he made on social media about a senior government official.

However, the following morning, he was pronounced dead on arrival after being rushed to Mbagathi Hospital. The case of his death seemed suspicious, as according to initial reports by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, it was suicide, allegedly caused by banging his head against a cell wall. But after a postmortem conducted by lead government pathologist Dr Bernard Midia, it was reported that,

“Soft tissue injuries were observed on the body, and there were signs of neck compression. These injuries are consistent with external assault, and there were also signs of a struggle.”

The case of Albert Ojwang's death had sparked nationwide anger, leading to protests, as this is not an isolated case of police brutality. After the heartbreaking incident, crowds assembled outside the Nairobi City Mortuary on Monday, holding signs and chanting “Stop killing us” in protest. Across social media, thousands of Kenyans expressed sorrow and fury, calling for immediate justice and government accountability.

Kenya Police officer arrested

Police spokesperson Michael Muchiri said on Friday that a constable has been arrested in connection with Albert's death. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is leading the investigation; however, there has been no immediate comment from the IPOA.

Not only this, earlier this week, five officers were also suspended to inculcate a “transparent” inquiry. There is also mounting pressure on the department of IPOA as both the United States and European Union are asking for a proper inquiry into Albert Ojwang's death.

By Thursday, protesters took over the streets of the capital, waving Kenyan flags and asking for the dismissal of the country’s deputy police chief, Eliud Lagat, through chants stating, “Lagat must go.”

According to the IPOA, there have been 20 deaths in police custody in just the past four months, making Albert Ojwang's case the tip of the iceberg as well as the final straw in growing public frustration.

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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