In Nairobi, Kenya, a wave of protests has emerged after the reported death of 31-year-old Albert Omondi Ojwang while in police custody. Ojwang’s arrest stemmed from a complaint by the deputy police chief, alleging that he had defamed him through social media.
Initially, authorities claimed that Ojwang sustained head injuries from colliding with a cell wall. However, his family’s lawyer, Julius Juma, contradicted this account, stating that his body exhibited severe trauma, including swelling on his head, nose, and ears, along with bruises on his shoulders and hands, suggesting a more violent incident.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death. Protests erupted outside the City Mortuary in Nairobi, with demonstrators chanting “Stop killing us,” and subsequently marched to the Central Police Station where Ojwang was held.
Ojwang had been arrested in Homa Bay over critical social media posts regarding the Deputy Inspector General of Police and was transferred over 350 kilometers to Nairobi. To address public outcry, senior officers at the Central Police Station have been suspended, pending the IPOA’s investigation.
Amnesty International’s Kenya director, Irungu Houghton, expressed concern over the suspicious nature of Ojwang’s death and criticized the police process surrounding his detainment.
Source: www.bbc.com
