CNN
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Anger over the death of a Kenyan blogger in police custody sparked protests in the capital Nairobi this week after doctors rebutted police claims that police had died from a self-injured head injury in his cells.
The protest first exploded Monday, a day after Kenya’s National Police Service said he died in custody with a “head injury” after hitting his head in the cell wall.
Ojuwan’s death further angers the young people in Kenya. Kenya has opposed the disappearance of dozens of anti-government critics since the protests forced the withdrawal of the controversial fiscal bill last year.
Protesters on Thursday were faced with police deployed in an attempt to disperse tear gas.
According to Amnesty Kenya, 31-year-old Ojang was a teacher and father. Local newspaper The Daily Nation described him as an “influencer” known “for his strong online presence and social media campaigns.”
Ojuwan was arrested Friday, according to a police statement, “due to a crime of false publication.” On Sunday he added that he was “unconscious.”
Six police officers are being investigated, according to the national broadcasting station KBC.
Kenya police chief Douglas Kanja further explained his arrest, saying on Wednesday that his lieutenant, Eliud Ragat, had previously filed a complaint that Ojuwan had in a post on social media platform X claiming Ragat was corrupt.
Protesters are calling for the removal of Ragat.
On Wednesday, government pathologist Bernard Midia contradicted police explanations, which caused Ojuwan’s death, saying, “Severe head injuries were found,” “characteristics of neck compression,” and “injuries of multiple soft tissues that spread throughout the body.”
“The cause of the death is very clear,” Midia told reporters, saying the pattern of injuries was “leading towards assault,” and “not self-harm.”
He said the autopsy was performed by a team of five pathologists.
On Wednesday, the head of Kanja, Kenya police, rescinded the initial claim regarding Ojuwan’s cause of death.
“I will bid on behalf of National Police Service for that misinformation,” Kanja told the Parliamentary Committee on National Security.
“That’s not true… he didn’t hit his head against the wall,” the police chief said. The lawmakers say the initial claims are based on preliminary information he received.
Kenya’s Police Watchdog, the Independent Police Surveillance Bureau (IPOA), has launched an investigation into Ojuwan’s death.
Kenya President William Root said on Wednesday he received news of Ojuwan’s death “with total shock and disappointment.”
“This tragic event at the hands of the police is heartbreaking and unacceptable,” Root said in a statement, “sought a prompt, transparent and reliable investigation.”