President William Ruto is facing mounting public and political criticism over a perceived failure to curb police brutality and extra-judicial killings, following the death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang’ while in police custody last weekend.
Ojwang’, who was arrested in Homa Bay County by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers over an alleged derogatory post on social media platform X, died under suspicious circumstances after being transferred to Nairobi and held at Central Police Station.
Authorities initially claimed he died from self-inflicted injuries after hitting his head against a cell wall. However, a post-mortem conducted on Tuesday revealed severe head injuries, neck compression, and multiple soft tissue trauma, findings inconsistent with the police’s explanation. Pathologists confirmed that the injuries did not match those typically caused by self-harm.
The arrest was reportedly initiated by Kenya Police Service Deputy Inspector-General Eliud Lagat, raising concerns over a potential conflict of interest in the ongoing investigation.
Since the incident, President Ruto and Interior CS Kithure Kindiki have been criticized for their silence. On Citizen TV’s Daybreak program, Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu condemned the government’s handling of the case, calling it a betrayal of Ruto’s 2022 promise to uphold human rights and constitutional freedoms.
“Kenyans understand the constitution and are doing exactly what it allows them. It is up to the Kenya Kwanza administration to live to that spirit,” Mulu said, urging the government to respect dissent and stop suppressing civic voices.
Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja confirmed that multiple officers at Central Police Station, including the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) and those on duty during Ojwang’s detention, have been interdicted pending investigations.
Several lawmakers have demanded DIG Lagat’s resignation and called on President Ruto to ensure that those responsible for Ojwang’s death face justice.
The incident comes amid a broader concern over rising cases of extrajudicial killings in Kenya. Amnesty International Kenya recently reported 104 such incidents in 2024, following 118 cases recorded in 2023, a worrying trend that human rights groups say demands urgent government accountability.
Written By Rodney Mbua
