Kenya's police chief said Monday that the man who died in custody over the weekend had been arrested for making a complaint against a senior officer. The Kenyan man had been arrested over a post on social media. His death shortly after in his cell is sparking condemnation from supporters and rights group Amnesty International on Sunday.
Albert Ojwang, 31, was found unconscious in a cell in Nairobi police station on Saturday and later pronounced dead in hospital. The police said he hit his own head against the wall.
"We saw the body yesterday... (it) had a lot of injuries on the hands, the shoulder area, but the head was swollen all around the frontal part... the nose, ears... and there was a lot of blood," Julius Juma, lawyer for Ojwang's family, told reporters and supporters, who had gathered outside the morgue in Nairobi on Monday.
Kenya was already on edge as it marks a year since massive protests over tax rises and corruption that triggered a police response in which at least 60 were killed.
Kenya rights groups decry abductions as government cracks down on protests
Ojwang's death came just a few weeks before this anniversary of the deadly unrest in the protests, which sparked a crackdown on critics by President William Ruto's government.
Call for investigation
Police said in a statement that Ojwang had been arrested for a "false publication" and suffered head injuries after striking his head against a cell wall.
Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja told reporters that Ojwang was arrested along with several others following a complaint by his deputy, Eliud Kipkoech Lagat.
"There was a complaint that had been launched by the (deputy inspector-general) about his name being tarnished. It is on that basis that investigations were actually being carried out because he also has a right to be protected by the same law," Kanja said.
Amnesty International said Ojwang's death "must be urgently, thoroughly and independently investigated".
"We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Albert Ojwang, who died last night at the Central Police Station in Nairobi," the organisation wrote in a statement.
"No Kenyan should lose their life in police custody, and those entrusted with their protection. Police officers have a legal and moral duty to ensure the safety and well-being of every person under their custody. The death of Albert Ojwang while in detention raises serious questions that must be urgently, thoroughly, and independently investigated by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR)."
The death also sparked outrage among Ojwang's supporters online.
"We demand answers. This death cannot be swept under the rug. How many more young lives must we lose to this rotten system?" journalist Lynn Ngugi wrote on socials.
Harsh crackdown
Kenyan authorities have been accused of a harsh crackdown on critics of the government, with more than 80 illegally detained since the June 2024 protests, according to rights groups, some just for sharing cartoons or satirical images of President William Ruto.
Kenya probes alleged police involvement in abduction of government critics
Former attorney general Justin Muturi, who says his own son was illegally detained by security forces during the protests, spoke out against Ojwang's death.
"The circumstances surrounding his death, including the alleged 'suicide attempt' in custody, are not just suspicious, they are outrageous," he wrote on social media.
"They insult the intelligence of Kenyans and raise very serious questions about the conduct and accountability of our law enforcement agencies."
(with AFP)
