President William Ruto of Kenya has ordered a thorough investigation into the murder of well-known blogger and educator Albert Ojwang, who passed away while in police detention. Ojwang, 31, was taken into custody in Homa Bay on Saturday after making disparaging remarks about Deputy Inspector General Eliud Kipkoech Lagat on social media. The following day, he was allegedly taken to Nairobi’s Central Police Station, where he passed away under unclear circumstances. Ojwang experienced blunt-force trauma and neck compression, according to a postmortem analysis, clearly contradicting early police claims that he self-inflicted his injuries.
President: ‘Heartbreaking and unacceptable’
In a statement released Wednesday, President Ruto extended his condolences to the Ojwang family and promised a swift, transparent and credible investigation into what he described as a ‘heartbreaking and unacceptable’ loss.
‘I take this moment to extend my heartfelt condolences to Mr. Meshack Ojwang and his family for the cruel loss of their beloved son,’ the president said. ‘This tragic occurrence, at the hands of the police, is heartbreaking and unacceptable. I strongly condemn the actions and omissions, including any negligence or outright criminality, that may have contributed to his untimely death.’
Ruto further directed police to fully cooperate with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which has already launched an inquiry into Ojwang’s death.
Rights groups demand justice
Amnesty International Kenya, the Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE), Vocal Africa, and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) have all condemned the case, which has caused widespread indignation. The organisations have demanded that any officials implicated be held accountable and that a comprehensive, independent investigation be conducted. Anger over long-standing worries about police violence in Kenya was further heightened on Monday when police used tear gas to scatter protesters who had assembled in Nairobi to call for justice for Ojwang.
A pattern of violence and impunity
There have long been claims of extrajudicial executions and wrongful detentions against Kenya’s security personnel. Amnesty International recorded 136 police-related deaths in 2023 alone. Few police are ever held accountable for the regular use of excessive force, especially during public demonstrations, as Human Rights Watch has noted on numerous occasions. Ojwang was well-known for his incisive criticism on security and governance concerns and was active on X (previously Twitter). His passing has sparked new discussions about the necessity of police reform and the security of online dissent. President Ruto has promised that anyone is proven to be at fault would be held accountable when the IPOA starts its inquiry. He stated that “criminity and misconduct within police ranks must be confronted firmly.”
