Kenyan President, Ruto condemned the death of 31-year-old Albert Ojwang in police custody, calling it heartbreaking and unacceptable and urged a swift, transparent investigation.
According to the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Ojwang, a blogger active on X and Facebook, was arrested last weekend for posting allegations of corruption against a senior police officer. He was detained in western Kenya and later transferred over 250 kilometres to Nairobi without a court order.
His death in custody has sparked national outrage and protests, marking a fresh flashpoint in ongoing concerns over police brutality in the country.
Initial police reports claimed Ojwang died by suicide after allegedly hitting his head against a cell wall. However, a post-mortem conducted by government pathologist Bernard Midia contradicted that account. “The cause of death is very clear head injury, neck compression, and additional injuries across the body, all pointing towards assault,” he said.
President Ruto, in his first public response to the incident, urged the public not to make premature judgments or draw conclusions that could interfere with ongoing investigations.
He directed the National Police Service to fully cooperate with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to ensure a credible inquiry.
Officers Suspended.
Africanews/Kamila