Kenyan President William Ruto has condemned the death of 31-year-old blogger Albert Ojwang while in police custody, describing the incident as “heartbreaking and unacceptable.” Ruto called for an urgent, transparent investigation and directed the National Police Service to fully cooperate with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). Ojwang, known for his outspoken posts on X and Facebook, was arrested in Homa Bay on Friday after accusing Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat of corruption. According to the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), he was transferred over 250 kilometers to Nairobi without a court order—a move legal experts say may have violated due process.
Ojwang’s death has triggered national outrage and street protests, with rights groups and civil society demanding accountability. The initial police account claimed Ojwang died by suicide after hitting his head against a cell wall, but a government-commissioned autopsy told a different story.https://x.com/WilliamsMkenya/status/1932803188173746258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1932803188173746258%7Ctwgr%5Ef5267af7d0fb0e65db49e2aeedf76f800db947aa%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.africanews.com%2F2025%2F06%2F11%2Fkenyan-president-condemns-death-in-police-custody-orders-swift-investigation%2F
Government pathologist Dr. Bernard Midia revealed that Ojwang suffered head trauma, neck compression, and multiple body injuries—evidence consistent with assault, not self-inflicted harm. “The cause of death is very clear,” Midia said. “It’s not suicide.” Under pressure from the public and advocacy groups, the Interior Ministry suspended five police officers involved in Ojwang’s detention. Activists are calling for broader police reforms, citing a pattern of extrajudicial killings and abuse by security forces.
President Ruto, responding to the outcry, urged the public to allow investigators to complete their work without interference but acknowledged the deepening mistrust of law enforcement. “Our government is committed to ending unconstitutional and abusive practices,” he said, reiterating the need for justice and accountability. Ojwang’s death comes amid rising tensions over police brutality in Kenya, with renewed calls for stronger oversight and legal reforms to protect civil liberties.
