Kenyan police officers suspended after suspicious death of blogger in custody sparks public outrage and investigation.

Several Kenyan police officers have been suspended following the death of a man while in custody under circumstances that many find suspicious. This incident has sparked a nationwide outcry and prompted an independent investigation into the matter.

Albert Ojwang, who was known both as a teacher and a blogger, was arrested last Friday in the western town of Homa Bay. His arrest came after a complaint was lodged by Kenya’s deputy police chief, Eliud Lagat, who accused Ojwang of defamation on social media platforms. Instead of being processed at the local police station in Homa Bay, Ojwang was transported more than 350 kilometers (approximately 220 miles) to Nairobi, where he was detained at a police station.

According to statements released by the police, the 31-year-old Ojwang allegedly suffered fatal head injuries after he reportedly “hit his head against a cell wall.” Police say that during a routine inspection of the holding cells, Ojwang was found unconscious and was subsequently rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. However, human rights organizations have expressed strong skepticism regarding this explanation.

Irungu Houghton, the director of Amnesty International Kenya, described Ojwang’s death as “very suspicious” and called for a “thorough, independent investigation” into the treatment he received while in police custody. Amnesty International also questioned the legality of transferring a detainee such a long distance without first booking him in at the local police station.

In response to the mounting public backlash, Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja confirmed that all officers who were on duty at the Nairobi police station during Ojwang’s detention—including the station’s commanding officer—have been interdicted. These officers have been barred from active duty and will receive half of their salary while the investigation is ongoing.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which has taken the lead in investigating the case, pledged to ensure justice is served. “We will do everything to ensure accountability—not only for the family, but for all Kenyans,” said IPOA Chair Ahmed Isaack Hassan during a joint press conference held with the police.

Reports indicate that Ojwang was arrested on charges of “false publication” after allegedly insulting a senior government official on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Public anger over Ojwang’s death has been growing rapidly online, with civil society groups and concerned citizens calling for protests and demanding greater accountability from the police. A post-mortem examination was scheduled for Monday to establish the exact cause of death.

Ojwang’s death has come amid increasing scrutiny of how Kenyan authorities handle dissent. Just the previous week, software developer Rose Njeri faced charges under the cybercrime law after she created an app aimed at mobilizing opposition to a government finance bill.

Human rights advocates argue that these incidents highlight a troubling trend in the government’s response to digital activism and the protection of freedom of expression.