Kenya President William Ruto has confirmed the death of blogger and school teacher Albert Ojwang while in police custody, describing the incident as “heartbreaking and unacceptable”. He has ordered a swift and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death.
Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher by profession who has been a vocal critic on social media, was arrested in Homa Bay last Saturday over alleged posts targeting Deputy Chief Inspector Eliud Kipkoech Lagat. He was transferred to Nairobi the same day, where he died while in custody at the Central Police Station.
Initial police reports suggested that his injuries were self-inflicted, but an autopsy later revealed that Ojwang died from blunt force trauma and neck compression, raising serious concerns of foul play.
Ruto expressed his condolences to Ojwang’s family, especially his father, Meshack Ojwang. “This tragic incident involving the police is deeply disturbing. I strongly condemn any action or omission that may have contributed to this brutal loss,” Ruto said.
He stressed that misconduct within the police must be dealt with decisively and directed law enforcement agencies to cooperate fully with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which is currently investigating the incident.
The case has sparked widespread outrage, with human rights groups including Amnesty International Kenya, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Vocal Africa and the Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) calling for an independent investigation and accountability.
Protests erupted in Nairobi on Monday, with police firing tear gas to disperse protesters demanding justice for Ojwang. The crackdown has further fuelled criticism of the police, who have long been accused of excessive force and impunity by rights groups.
Amnesty International reported 136 extrajudicial killings by Kenyan police in 2023 alone, while Human Rights Watch continues to highlight systematic abuses that have limited consequences for perpetrators, particularly during public protests.
President Ruto promised that the investigation into Ojwang’s death would be credible and that justice would be served without delay.