Dozens of activists staged a protest outside a mortuary in Nairobi, Kenya, following the death of 31-year-old Albert Omondi Ojwang in police custody. His passing has sparked outrage, with many questioning the circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention.
Mr. Ojwang was taken into custody after Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat accused him of damaging his reputation on social media. Initially, police claimed Mr. Ojwang sustained head injuries by hitting his head against a cell wall. However, his family’s lawyer, Julius Juma, disputes this, citing multiple signs of severe trauma—including swelling and bruises inconsistent with a single impact.
Kenya’s Independent Policing Oversight Authority has launched an investigation, while senior officers from the Central Police Station in Nairobi, where Mr. Ojwang was held, have been suspended. Meanwhile, protesters gathered outside the mortuary, chanting “Stop killing us,” before marching to the police station to demand justice.
Concerns over the treatment of government critics have escalated in Kenya. Amnesty International Kenya has called Mr. Ojwang’s death “suspicious,” pointing to irregularities in his detention. His arrest came days after software developer Rose Njeri was charged under cybercrime laws for creating a tool opposing a government finance bill, further fueling discussions about freedom of expression and police accountability.
