Protests have rocked Nairobi following the death of teacher and activist Albert Ojwang in police custody after an official autopsy directly contradicted the police’s initial claim that he died from a self-inflicted injury.
Police arrested the 31-year-old last Friday for “false publication,” alleging he had accused a senior police official of corruption on social media. Authorities initially reported that Ojwang was found unconscious on Sunday after “hitting his head against the cell wall.”
However, that narrative crumbled when a government pathologist revealed the results of an autopsy conducted by a five-person team. The report detailed “serious injuries to the head,” “features of neck compression,” and multiple soft tissue injuries across his body. The pathologist stated the pattern of injuries was “pointing towards assault” and “unlikely to be self-inflicted.”
The damning findings sparked outrage and forced Kenya’s police chief, Douglas Kanja, to publicly retract the original story and apologize for the “misinformation.” He confirmed that six officers are now under investigation.
The death has further inflamed tensions with Kenyan youth, who have been protesting the disappearances of anti-government critics. President William Ruto said he received the news with “utter shock and dismay,” calling the death “heartbreaking and unacceptable” and demanding a swift and transparent investigation.
