Kenyan police officer had been arrested on Thursday in connection with the death of political blogger Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody, local media reported. The arrest came as widespread protests erupted in Nairobi, with demonstrators demanding accountability and justice.
Ojwang, 31, was announced dead on Sunday, two days after being detained in western Kenya. His death has reignited long-standing concerns about police brutality and allegations of extrajudicial killings in the country.
Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Nairobi on Thursday, with some setting vehicles on fire. Police are claimed to use tear gas to disperse the crowd.. The demonstrators carried Kenyan flags and chanted slogans demanding the resignation of Deputy Police Chief Eliud Lagat, who Ojwang allegedly criticized online.
The Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched a formal investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, the European Union and the United States have called for a transparent and independent investigation.
Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja issued an apology on Wednesday for an earlier misleading account of Ojwang’s death, amid increasing scrutiny of Kenya’s security forces and their treatment of detainees.
Kenyan President Ruto, who has vowed to end extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, is facing renewed pressure to deliver on his promises amid accusations that his administration is holding security officials unaccountable.