Kenyan Police Violence Escalates against Protestors of Blogger’s Death in Custody

Author: Aamnah Fatima Khan

June 16, 2025

HRRC strongly condemns the excessive and violent police response to peaceful protesters demanding justice for Albert Ojwang. The brutal response is a gross violation of fundamental rights and reflects a dangerous pattern of state-sanctioned repression.

Kenyan blogger Albert Ojwang reportedly died in police custody [Image credit: Getty Images via soapcentral.com]

Widespread protests have broken out across Kenya in response to the brutal killing of teacher and political commentator Albert Ojwang while in police detention, with protestors now facing severe police crackdowns. Ojwang, who had been detained for allegedly defaming Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat, died under odd circumstances. While the police claimed the injuries were self-inflicted, an autopsy found indications of assault, causing widespread suspicion of torture.

The public protests swiftly grew into a larger movement opposing police brutality, corruption, and impunity. In Nairobi, demonstrators, many of whom are young, came to the streets to demand justice and institutional accountability. They attempted to disrupt the national budget presentation, chanting "No justice, no budget," and demanding structural reforms before financial planning. However, police responded with force, shooting tear gas, beating protestors, and closing highways, escalating tensions.

This brutal governmental response is not new. Experts attribute Kenya's police violence to colonial-era structures and the long-standing employment of police to suppress unrest. From the post-election violence of 2007–08 to the 2024 demonstrations against punitive economic policies, authorities have repeatedly met public mobilization with excessive force. Police impunity is made worse by a flawed accountability system, which includes an underfunded Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), weak internal policies, and political influence that protects corrupt police.

Despite President William Ruto's condemnation of Ojwang's killing and promises of police reform, protesters lack trust in the system. Only one cop has been charged with murder so far, while others are under investigation. Meanwhile, human rights organizations and parliamentarians continue to doubt the integrity of police investigations and call for institutional transparency. Unless Kenya implements significant structural reforms and displays zero tolerance for police violence, protest repression such as that was seen following Ojwang's murder will continue to erode democracy and the rule of law.

---

Glossary 

• Accountability: Being responsible for one's actions and decisions

• Assault: Physically harming or threatening someone

• Attribute: A quality or characteristic of something

• Autopsy: Examination of a dead body to determine cause of death

• Bloggers: People who write articles or posts on the internet, often on specific topics or themes

• Brutal: Cruel or violent treatment

• Colonial era: Period of time when one country was controlled by another country

• Condemn: Strongly disapproving or criticizing something

• Crackdown: Sudden and severe action taken to control or suppress something

• Custody: State of being held or kept in a place, often by authority

• Defaming: Damaging someone's reputation by saying or writing false information

• Detained: Held in custody or kept in a place against one's will

• Disrupt: Interrupting or causing problems for something

• Erode: Gradually wearing away or reducing something

• Escalating: Increasing or intensifying something, often in a negative way

• Flawed: Having imperfections or weaknesses

• Fundamental: Basic or essential part of something

• Gross: Severe or extreme, often in a way that is clearly noticeable

• Impunity: State of being exempt from punishment or consequences

• Institutional transparency: Openness and clarity in the actions and decisions of institutions

• Integrity: Quality of being honest and having strong moral principles

• Investigation: Systematic inquiry to gather facts and information

• Parliament: A Group of people elected to make laws and govern a country

• Punitive: Intended to punish

• Reform: Changing something to improve it or make it more effective

• Repression: Suppressing or controlling people's freedom or actions

• Self-inflicted: Caused by oneself, often referring to injuries or problems

• State-sanctioned: Approved or supported by a government or state authority

• Suppress: Forcing something to stop or be hidden, often by authority

• Suspicion: Feeling or thought that something might be true or wrong

---

Sources

1. https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/headlines/164848/kilifi-teachers-cry-for-justice-over-colleague-ojwangs-tragic-death 

2. https://www.jurist.org/news/2025/06/protests-erupt-in-kenya-against-police-brutality-and-proposed-finance-bill/ 

3. https://zamin.uz/en/world/152244-the-death-of-a-teacher-in-kenya-has-caused-an-unquenchable-rebellion-in-the-country.html 

4. https://kenyalaw.org/kl/fileadmin/pdfdownloads/Acts/Independent_Policing_Oversight_Authority_Act__No._35_of_2011.pdf 

5. https://theconversation.com/kenyas-brutal-police-have-been-exposed-again-why-the-system-fails-people-258843

6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz0f1yyf_eA 

7. https://www.jstor.org/stable/45198654?seq=1