A Kenyan police officer has been arrested in connection with the controversial death of 31-year-old Albert Ojwang, who died while in custody last weekend after publicly criticising a senior officer on social media.
Ojwang’s death has triggered public outrage and mass protests in Nairobi, with demonstrators demanding accountability and the resignation of Deputy Inspector-General Eliud Kipkoech Lagat — the officer Ojwang had targeted in his online posts.
Police initially claimed Ojwang had fatally injured himself by repeatedly hitting his head against a wall in his cell. However, a government pathologist later contradicted that narrative, saying the injuries were “unlikely to be self-inflicted.”
The arrest was confirmed by police spokesperson Michael Muchiri on Friday, though he declined to provide details, directing further inquiries to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which is leading the investigation. IPOA has not yet issued a statement.
Earlier this week, five officers were suspended from active duty to ensure a transparent investigation. IPOA also revealed that 20 people have died in police custody across Kenya in just the last four months.
President William Ruto has since called for an urgent investigation, pledging that his administration will “protect citizens from rogue police officers.”
Ojwang’s death has become a flashpoint in a broader reckoning with police brutality in Kenya, particularly following last year’s anti-government protests. Human rights groups allege that dozens of protesters were abducted or illegally detained, with some still unaccounted for, and others targeted for criticising the government and President Ruto.
