Mass protests have broken out in Nairobi, Kenya, following the death of 31-year-old blogger Albert Omondi Ojwang.
He was arrested after the Deputy Police Chief filed a complaint accusing Ojwang of tarnishing his name on social media.
His death has sparked outrage over deteriorating democratic values in Kenya.
According to BBC, the police’s original statement suggested that Ojwang suffered injuries to his head after hitting his head against the cell wall.
But Ojwang family’s lawyers have refuted this claim, citing evidence of severe physical trauma, including swelling on the head, ears, and nose, observed on the body.
Additionally, bruises were seen on Ojwang’s shoulders and hands, which have been deemed inconsistent with the alleged impact with the cell wall.
While protestors gathered outside the Nairobi mortuary holding posters which said “stop killing us,” the Independent Policing Oversight Authority launched an inquiry into Ojwang’s case and death.
Tear gas was fired twice in an attempt to quell the protests, as crowds marched towards the central police station in Nairobi.
Albert Omondi Ojwang was arrested on Friday in Homa Bay, in western Kenya, for his post on X in which he was reportedly critical of Eliud Lagat, Deputy Inspector General of Police.
In response to the rising public pressure and frustrations, senior officers in the Nairobi Central Police station had been “interdicted,” meaning they would not be permitted to perform their duties and would receive only half of their monthly salaries until the investigation was conducted.
Amnesty International’s branch in Kenya has labelled Ojwang’s death as “very suspicious,” and suggested that it was “quite shocking” that Ojwang was not booked in a local police station, but was instead taken over 350km away to Nairobi to be booked.
Ojwang’s death comes just one week after software developer Rose Njeri was charged with violations of cybercrime laws for creating a tool to help people oppose the highly controversial government finance bill announced last year.
As Kenya spirals under questions of democratic freedoms and the ability to critique and question the government, concerns over the treatment of government critics have come to the forefront of discussions and protests.
