By Peter Halima
Nairobi, Kenya – Three police officers in Kenya have been formally charged with the murder of Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old blogger who died in police custody earlier this month. The news has ignited widespread outrage across the country, fueling ongoing protests demanding justice for Ojwang and an end to police brutality.
Samson Kiprotich, Talaam James Mukhwana, and Peter Kimani, all officers of the Kenyan police force, appeared in court on Monday alongside three civilians charged as accomplices in the murder. None of the six have yet entered a plea.
Ojwang was arrested after Kenya’s Deputy Police Chief, Eliud Lagat, filed a complaint accusing the blogger of defamation on social media. Lagat has since stepped aside pending the outcome of investigations into the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death, denying any wrongdoing.
Initial reports from the police claimed Ojwang died of self-inflicted wounds, a statement quickly retracted following an autopsy that revealed the blogger likely died from assault wounds sustained while in custody.
The case has thrown a harsh spotlight on the Kenyan police force, with accusations of excessive force and lack of accountability mounting. Last week, a street vendor, Boniface Kariuki, was critically injured after being shot at close range by a uniformed police officer during a demonstration in Nairobi over Ojwang’s death.
Kariuki, who was reportedly selling face masks at the time, is currently in critical condition at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya’s largest referral facility. According to family members, he is unable to speak, hear, or see and requires life support.
“Watching that video of Boniface being shot was heart-breaking. He was just selling masks,” said Jonah Kariuki, the vendor’s father. “How could anyone hurt someone who hadn’t done anything wrong? It made me fearful.”
The shooting of Kariuki has further inflamed public anger, prompting activists to call for a “total shutdown” of the economy on Wednesday. The planned demonstration will coincide with the one-year anniversary of security forces opening fire on protestors demonstrating against increases in taxes.
The intertwined cases of Ojwang’s death and Kariuki’s shooting have drawn widespread condemnation from both local and international observers. Foreign embassies and human rights organizations have urged the Kenyan government to ensure transparency in the investigations and to hold those responsible accountable.
“The case has attracted widespread condemnation, with demonstrators demanding accountability for both the vendor’s shooting and Mr Ojwang’s earlier death,”said one local activist who wished to remain anonymous.
With protests escalating and public trust in the police eroding, the coming days will be crucial in determining whether justice will be served and whether lasting reforms can be implemented to address the systemic issues plaguing the Kenyan police force.
