At least one person was killed Tuesday in Nairobi as protests flared over the death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang, whose killing while in police custody has reignited public outrage over extrajudicial violence by Kenyan security forces.
A Reuters journalist witnessed the victim lying motionless with a head wound. The identity and cause of death remain unclear. Police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said he was unaware of any fatalities.
Ojwang, 31, died on June 8. Authorities initially claimed suicide, but an independent autopsy revealed signs of physical assault. President William Ruto later admitted Ojwang had died “at the hands of the police,” calling it “heartbreaking and unacceptable.”
Demonstrators flooded central Nairobi on Tuesday, facing tear gas from police. Violence escalated when groups of motorcyclists attacked protesters. Footage from NTV showed riders shouting “No protests” as they beat civilians. Amnesty International Kenya reported hooded passengers whipping both protesters and bystanders. The attackers remain unidentified.
Protests also spread to Mombasa, where crowds carried signs reading “Stop killing us” and “Ruto must stop killing us,” according to Citizen TV.
Ojwang had been arrested following a complaint by Deputy Police Chief Eliud Lagat, who has since stepped aside pending investigation. Two senior officers and a technician accused of tampering with CCTV footage at the station have been arrested.
The unrest echoes last year’s mass protests, during which more than 60 people were killed amid demonstrations over tax hikes and police abuse. Rights groups are again calling for accountability and reform.
