NAIROBI, Kenya — Three Kenyan police officers have been formally charged with the murder of Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old blogger whose death in police custody earlier this month ignited widespread outrage and calls for justice across the nation.
Ojwang’s arrest followed a complaint filed by Kenya’s Deputy Police Chief Eliud Lagat, who had accused the blogger of defamation on social media. Lagat, who has denied any wrongdoing, stepped aside from his duties last week pending the outcome of the ongoing investigations into Ojwang’s demise.
The three officers—Samson Kiprotich, Talaam James Mukhwana, and Peter Kimani—were charged alongside three civilians. All six appeared in court on Monday, though they have not yet entered a plea.
Authorities initially claimed that Mr. Ojwang succumbed to self-inflicted injuries. However, this statement was retracted after an autopsy concluded that his death was likely a result of assault wounds, contradicting the police’s initial account and intensifying public anger.
Tensions further escalated last week when Boniface Kariuki, a street vendor, was critically injured by a gunshot during a demonstration in the capital, Nairobi, protesting Ojwang’s death. This incident fueled renewed outrage from Kenyans who accuse the police of employing excessive force against protesters.
Kariuki was reportedly selling masks when a uniformed police officer discharged a bullet at close range, gravely wounding him.
Activists are now calling for a “total shutdown” of the economy on Wednesday as they amplify their protests against police brutality. This date also marks a year since security forces opened fire on crowds demonstrating against tax increases.
During last Tuesday’s protests, Mr. Kariuki, holding a packet of face masks, was caught in a confrontation with two officers in Nairobi amid clashes between hundreds of demonstrators and police. A video circulating online shows an officer, whose face was concealed by a mask, shooting him in the head as he walked away.
“Watching that video of Boniface being shot was heart-breaking. He was just selling masks. How could anyone hurt someone who hadn’t done anything wrong? It made me fearful,” Jonah Kariuki, the vendor’s father, told Vivid Voice News. Mr. Kariuki senior, also a hawker, emphasized that his son was the family’s primary provider and called for the prosecution of the police officers involved, should they be found guilty of the shooting.
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“I was so shocked because my son was not armed with stones or clubs like other protesters who were seen armed. They found him doing his work. It pained me because my son has never stolen anything,” said Susan Njeri, the victim’s mother.
Boniface Kariuki is currently receiving treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya’s largest referral facility, where he remains in critical condition. “Boniface cannot talk. He cannot hear as well. He cannot see us. To be sincere, he can’t survive without life support,” Emily Wanjiru, the family spokesperson, told Vivid Voice News.
The tragic cases of both Albert Ojwang and Boniface Kariuki have drawn widespread condemnation, with demonstrators demanding accountability for the violence. Foreign embassies and human rights organizations have also urged the Kenyan government to ensure transparency in the investigations and to hold those responsible fully accountable.
