Kenya: Police Officers Suspended After Man Dies in Custody Over X Post
In a deeply troubling development, Kenyan police authorities have temporarily suspended a station commander along with all officers who were on duty when a man, arrested over a social media post, died while in custody.
The deceased, Albert Ojwang, was apprehended in Homa Bay, a town in western Kenya, and transported approximately 350 kilometers to the capital, Nairobi. His father, Meshack Opiyo, informed the media that his son had been arrested for a post he made on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).
According to a police statement, while in detention, Ojwang reportedly sustained a head injury after allegedly hitting his head against a wall. “He was rushed to the hospital, but was declared dead upon arrival,” the statement said.
Amnesty International’s Kenya Chapter has expressed grave concern over Ojwang’s death. In a statement to the BBC, the organization described the circumstances as “highly suspicious,” demanding an immediate, thorough, and independent investigation. Amnesty noted that Ojwang was known as an educator and a digital writer, adding that his death raises serious human rights questions.
Senior police officer Stephen Okal, quoted by The Star newspaper, suggested the incident may have been a suicide attempt, a claim that has done little to quell public anger.
The exact nature of the charge against Ojwang — “spreading false information” — remains unclear. However, his father told Citizen Digital, a local media outlet, that the arresting officer had accused Ojwang of insulting a high-ranking government official in his post on X.
The police issued a late-night statement confirming the temporary suspension of all officers involved, pending an “independent and impartial investigation.”
Ojwang, 31, has become a symbol of rising public concern in Kenya over increasing crackdowns on government critics. His death has triggered outrage online, with some users calling for public protests and full accountability.
Amnesty International Kenya’s Executive Director, Irungu Houghton, lamented the irregularities in Ojwang’s detention. “It is deeply disturbing that he was not officially recorded at the police station where he was initially held. Instead, he was moved across the country under unclear circumstances,” he said.
Houghton called on independent investigators to scrutinize what he referred to as “the scene of brutality” at the police station in Nairobi.
Meanwhile, the police maintain that Ojwang’s arrest was carried out in accordance with the law.
His death comes amid growing concern over Kenya’s handling of dissent, especially as recent weeks have seen other activists and technologists face criminal charges. Just last week, Rose Njeri, a software engineer who developed a platform enabling citizens to protest government budget proposals, was charged under Kenya’s cybercrime laws.
As scrutiny intensifies, Ojwang’s tragic death underscores the urgent need for transparency, reform, and accountability in Kenya’s law enforcement practices.