The Independent Policing Oversight Authority of Kenya (IPOA) on Thursday revealed that 20 people have died in police custody in the past four months, amid renewed public anger over police conduct.
The announcement comes after nationwide protests erupted after 31-year-old teacher Albert Ojwang was detained for allegedly criticising a senior police officer online. Ojwang, who reportedly died from head injuries while in custody, has come under fierce criticism after pathologists disputed police claims that the injuries were self-inflicted.
IPOA President Issak Hassan, speaking outside the National Assembly, confirmed the 20 deaths in custody, highlighting growing concerns over the use of force and lack of accountability within the country’s law enforcement.
Police in Nairobi on Thursday fired tear gas at protesters protesting Ojwang’s death. It reflected rising tensions in a country still reeling from the impact of mass anti-government protests around the same time last year.
Human rights groups have also accused security forces of making scores of illegal detentions since the 2024 demonstrations, with several still unaccounted for.
The latest incidents have prompted calls for sweeping police reform and greater oversight to address what critics describe as a pattern of abuse and impunity.