Kenyan Blogger Dies in Custody, Sparking Outrage and Calls for Investigation

Albert Ojwang's custodial death following an arrest for "false publication" has prompted an investigation by Kenya's police oversight body, amid allegations of police misconduct and calls for accountability from human rights groups.

In a troubling incident from Kenya, the death of a man in police custody has raised alarm among human rights advocates and intensified scrutiny of police practices in the country. Albert Ojwang was reportedly detained for "false publication" following a post on social media while in Homa Bay, before being transported to Nairobi, a journey of approximately 350 kilometers (220 miles). His father, Meshack Opiyo, detailed the events leading up to his son's death during a press interaction.

According to a police statement, Ojwang sustained head injuries when he allegedly struck his head against a cell wall and was declared dead upon arrival at a local hospital. Amnesty International officials have expressed serious concerns regarding the circumstances of his passing, describing it as "very suspicious" and demanding a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the facts surrounding the incident.

The police have characterized Ojwang's injuries as an act of "attempted suicide," but this view has been met with skepticism. Eyewitness accounts indicate that he was not booked into a local station, instead being transported on a long journey following his arrest. Amnesty’s Kenya director, Irungu Houghton, criticized this practice and urged authorities to secure the area where Ojwang was held to preserve evidence.

Clarification surrounding the charge of "false publication" has yet to emerge, although Opiyo relayed that the arrest was due to comments made about a senior figure on social media. This incident unfolds against a backdrop of increasing tensions between the government and dissenters, with recent reports highlighting the arrests of individuals, such as software developer Rose Njeri, who opposed certain government policies. The narrative surrounding the treatment of critics remains fraught with concern, signaling the need for greater protection of freedom of expression in Kenya.