NAIROBI, Kenya (BN24) — Three Kenyan police officers were formally charged with murder on Monday in connection with the death of blogger Albert Ojwang, whose killing in police custody has ignited a nationwide outcry over police brutality and misuse of state power.
Ojwang, 31, died earlier this month after being arrested for allegedly defaming Deputy Police Inspector General Eliud Lagat in a series of social media posts. While Lagat has denied any role in the incident, he temporarily stepped aside last week pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
The officers — Samson Kiprotich, Talaam James Mukhwana, and Peter Kimani — appeared in court alongside three civilians who also face charges related to the case.
Authorities initially reported that Ojwang died of self-inflicted injuries, but an independent post-mortem examination contradicted that claim, citing blunt force trauma as the cause of death. The findings have sparked widespread public outrage and triggered mass protests across several cities, including Nairobi and Kisumu.
The case has become a symbol of rising anger toward Kenya’s security forces, who are frequently accused by rights groups of excessive force and extrajudicial killings with little accountability.
Tensions intensified last week when a street vendor, Boniface Kariuki, was critically injured after being shot during a protest in Nairobi. Witnesses said Kariuki, who was selling face masks at the time, was shot at close range by a police officer attempting to disperse demonstrators.
Civil society groups condemned the shooting and described it as a continuation of a pattern of unprovoked violence by Kenyan security forces.
In response to Ojwang’s death and the mounting violence, activists have called for a nationwide shutdown on Wednesday, marking the anniversary of last year’s deadly crackdown on anti-tax demonstrations. Organizers say the event will highlight ongoing abuses by police and the state’s failure to enact reforms.
“Albert’s death must not be in vain,” said Lydia Atieno, a spokesperson for the National Human Rights Coalition. “This is about more than one case. It’s about a culture of impunity that has gone on for too long.”
The government has faced mounting domestic and international pressure to ensure accountability in Ojwang’s death and broader allegations of police misconduct. Kenya’s Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) confirmed it is investigating multiple incidents related to recent protests.
“The prosecution of these officers is a welcome but long overdue step,” said Amnesty International’s East Africa Director, adding that “it must be the beginning of systemic reform, not just a single response to public outrage.”
As protests continue to spread, Ojwang’s name has become a rallying cry for demonstrators demanding justice, transparency, and an end to police violence in Kenya.
