Kenyan President William Ruto has strongly condemned the death of 31-year-old Albert Ojwang while in police custody, describing the incident as “heartbreaking and unacceptable.” He called for a swift and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death, which has sparked nationwide outrage.
Ojwang, a blogger known for his activism on social media platforms X and Facebook, was arrested last weekend after posting allegations of corruption against a senior police officer.
According to the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), he was detained in western Kenya before being transferred more than 250 kilometers to Nairobi without a court order.
His death has intensified ongoing protests against police brutality in Kenya, with demonstrators demanding accountability for the misleading statement.
Police initially claimed Ojwang died by suicide, alleging he hit his head against a cell wall. However, a post-mortem examination conducted by government pathologist Dr. Bernard Midia contradicted this account. “The cause of death is very clear—head injury, neck compression, and additional injuries across the body, all pointing toward assault,” Midia told reporters.
President Ruto, addressing the incident for the first time publicly, urged Kenyans to avoid “premature judgments or conclusions” that could interfere with investigations.
He directed the National Police Service to cooperate fully with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to ensure a thorough and credible inquiry.
In response to mounting pressure, five police officers linked to the case have been suspended pending investigations. Protesters have also accused the Deputy Inspector General of Police of involvement in the incident, further fueling public anger.
The case has reignited criticism of Kenya’s police force, which has faced repeated allegations of human rights violations, including enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
President Ruto acknowledged growing concerns over police misconduct and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ending unconstitutional and abusive practices by law enforcement.
“We will ensure that justice is served and that such incidents do not happen again,” he stated.
As investigations continue, human rights groups and civil society organizations are calling for systemic reforms to hold security forces accountable and prevent.
