Uproar in Kenya over blogger’s loss of life in police custody : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5000x3335+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F9a%2F3aff6ac24d89af9a9d8e10ff9f83%2Fgettyimages-2219147952.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5000x3335+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F9a%2F3aff6ac24d89af9a9d8e10ff9f83%2Fgettyimages-2219147952.jpg" class="img" alt="A protester holds a banner and shouts at a Kenyan police officer during a demonstration over the death of Kenyan blogger Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody. June 12 2025" fetchpriority="high"/> A protester holds a banner and shouts at a Kenyan police officer throughout an indication over the loss of life of Kenyan blogger Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody. June 12 2025 Luis Tato/AFP cover caption

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Luis Tato/AFP NAIROBI, Kenya —Protests erupted throughout Kenya Thursday over the loss of life of 31-year-old blogger Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody underneath suspicious circumstances.

Ojwang was arrested final week in Homa Bay, in western Kenya, after criticizing Kenya's Deputy Inspector Basic of Police, Eliud Lagat, on social media. Ojwang was transported over 200 miles to Nairobi, the capital, on Friday, the place he died hours later.

A former trainer, turned blogger, Ojwang had been writing about Lagat's alleged involvement in a bribery scandal which had beforehand been reported by the press.

Police initially claimed Ojwang "hit his head on a cell wall," however an post-mortem revealed he was tortured to loss of life. Dr. Bernard Midia, one in all 5 pathologists who examined Ojwangs physique stated the "explanation for loss of life could be very clear; head harm, neck compression and different accidents unfold all around the physique which are pointing in direction of assault," and "a number of tender tissue accidents."

Six cops have been on responsibility on the time of Ojwang's loss of life. One has been arrested and charged with homicide, two stay at giant. Kenya's police watchdog, the Unbiased Policing Oversight Authority, says extra arrests are imminent.

Anger over the killing spilled into the streets of Nairobi, the place demonstrators blocked roads, set vehicles ablaze, and tried to march on Parliament as lawmakers debated the nationwide funds. Riot police fired tear fuel to disperse crowds.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8256x5504+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdd%2Fa9%2F3516926a4c55ba91db181a6633b0%2Fgettyimages-2218827352-1.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8256x5504+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdd%2Fa9%2F3516926a4c55ba91db181a6633b0%2Fgettyimages-2218827352-1.jpg" class="img" alt="NAIROBI, KENYA - Demonstrators gather to stage an anti-government protest demanding an end to police brutality after the death of Kenyan social media influencer Albert Ojwang, who died after being taken into police custody. June 9 2025" loading="lazy"/> NAIROBI, KENYA - Demonstrators collect to stage an anti-government protest demanding an finish to police brutality after the loss of life of Kenyan social media influencer Albert Ojwang, who died after being taken into police custody. June 9 2025 Anadolu/Getty cover caption

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Anadolu/Getty The unrest comes a yr after anti-tax protests shook the nation and left over 60 useless. Demonstrators say Ojwang's loss of life has reopened wounds—and fueled deepening public mistrust in Kenya's police power.

"No justice, no funds," they chanted. "Lagat should go," they stated. Others held posters and copies of the foremost dailies, which all had entrance web page tales in regards to the loss of life.

The protests started earlier this week when information of Ojwang's loss of life emerged, however Thursday's demonstrations have been by far the biggest, resulting in the closure of many companies within the metropolis. Protests have been held in different cities in western Kenya and the Rift Valley.

"There is not any worth for all times; they're killing us day-after-day," stated journalist and activist Hanifa Adan. "We're right here demanding justice."

Kenya's police chief, Douglas Kanja, apologized for initially deceptive the general public. In a heated parliamentary listening to Thursday, lawmakers grilled senior police officers amid rising nationwide outrage and revelations that greater than 20 folks have died in police custody over the previous 4 months.

President William Ruto condemned Ojwang's loss of life as "heartbreaking and unacceptable." The EU, U.S., and U.Okay. have all known as for a clear investigation.

"That is the final loss of life underneath police," stated 23-year-old protester Kelvin Oluoch. "We now have to face our floor and say by no means once more. Sufficient is sufficient."