Three police officers in Kenya were on Monday, June 23, charged with the murder of a 31-year-old blogger, Albert Ojwang, whose death in police custody earlier this month has triggered nationwide protests and renewed scrutiny of police brutality in the country.
Ojwang was arrested after allegedly defaming Kenya’s deputy police chief, Eliud Lagat, on social media. Lagat, who has denied any wrongdoing, stepped down temporarily last week while investigations continue.
Alongside the three officers, Samson Kiprotich, Talaam James Mukhwana, and Peter Kimani, three civilians are also facing charges.
Authorities initially claimed Ojwang died from self-inflicted injuries. However, a post-mortem later revealed evidence of assault, contradicting the police account and fueling public anger.
In recent months, journalists in Kenya have faced increasing violence, especially during protests, with multiple incidents of police assault, equipment damage, and forced deletion of footage. Media workers from NTV, KTN, and Standard Media Group were attacked in Molo, Pumwani, and Homa Bay, raising serious concerns from global press freedom groups like RSF and IFJ. These attacks highlight a worsening environment for press freedom in Kenya, prompting calls for police accountability and stronger protection for journalists.
Source: africanews
