Kenya’s civil order may be hanging by a thread following the suspicious death of blogger and educator Albert Ojwang in police custody. Videos of protesters being dispersed by tear gas highlight this point, given how reminiscent it is of the 2024 anti-bill protests, which eventually called for the resignation of President William Ruto.
- Kenya faces political turmoil following the death of blogger and educator Albert Ojwang in police custody.
- Protests erupted over the incident, leading to clashes with police using tear gas and resulting in property damages.
- Ojwang, known for his critical social media commentary, was arrested and later declared dead under contested circumstances.
Kenya is on edge as public indignation mounts over the unexplained murder of blogger and educator Albert Ojwang while in police custody.
On Thursday, Kenyan police fired tear gas at protestors in Nairobi, scattering crowds protesting what many are calling a state-sanctioned death.
The protests on the day led to the destruction of properties, particularly vehicles, which had been set ablaze, as they called for the resignation of Deputy Police Chief Eliud Lagat, as reported by Reuters.
However, later reports indicated that a police officer had been arrested in connection with the case.
Additionally, the police revealed that they are investigating six cops, according to national broadcaster KBC.
Despite these developments, the retainment of the police chief makes it uncertain how Kenyans would continue to react.
The anti-bill protests that shook the country to its core last year, began as a protest against a new law and even when that was addressed, protests intensified, calling for the resignation of the president, William Ruto.
Backstory of the current Kenyan protests
Ojwang, a 31-year-old renowned for his politically inflammatory comments on X (previously Twitter) and Facebook, was detained last week in Homa Bay, a town in western Kenya, for reportedly attacking Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat on social media.
Days later, he was reported dead in police custody. Authorities first stated that Ojwang died as a result of head injuries caused by striking a cell wall.
The day prior, Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja apologised for implying that Ojwang committed suicide.
What William Ruto said
Additionally, the president of the country, William Ruto, broke his 72-hour silence on the issue after outrage over the educator’s death shifted towards him.
“I fully expect that the truth about what happened to Ojwang will be established in due course, and that justice will be served,” Ruto said.
“Like most Kenyans, and especially as a parent, I received the news of the death of Albert Ojwang while in police custody with utter shock and deep dismay.
I take this moment to extend my heartfelt condolences to Meshack Ojwang and his family for the cruel loss of their beloved son,” he added.
