One dead in Kenyan protests over death of blogger in police custody

Violent protests erupted across Kenya on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, following the death of 31-year-old blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang in police custody, leaving at least one person dead in the capital, Nairobi.

A Reuters journalist reported seeing a man’s lifeless body on the ground with a visible head wound. The identity of the deceased and the cause of death remain unconfirmed.

The unrest comes amid mounting outrage over alleged extrajudicial killings by Kenyan police—a crisis reignited by Ojwang’s case, which President William Ruto has publicly admitted resulted from police misconduct.

“Ojwang died at the hands of the police. It is heartbreaking and unacceptable,” President Ruto said last week.

Initially ruled a suicide, Ojwang’s death was later revealed by an independent autopsy to be the result of blunt-force trauma, contradicting police claims.

As protestors marched through downtown Nairobi, police responded with volleys of tear gas.

Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos when groups of unidentified motorcyclists—some wearing hoods—descended on demonstrators, attacking them with whips and clubs.

Local broadcaster NTV captured video of the bikers chanting “No protests” as they dispersed crowds.

Amnesty International Kenya condemned the violence, sharing footage of motorbikes carrying masked men lashing out at both protesters and bystanders.

The identities of the bikers remain unknown.

Outrage over Ojwang’s death has spread nationwide. Demonstrations also erupted in Mombasa, Kenya’s second-largest city, where protesters held signs reading “Stop killing us” and “Ruto must stop killing us.”

Ojwang had been arrested earlier this month following a complaint lodged by Deputy Police Chief Eliud Lagat.

Kenya’s Independent Policing Oversight Authority is investigating the case.

Lagat announced on Monday, June 15, that he would step aside while investigations proceed.

Two senior police officers and a CCTV technician have already been arrested.

The technician had reportedly been summoned to dismantle surveillance equipment at the police station where Ojwang was held.

Ojwang’s death comes just a year after police killed over 60 people during demonstrations over tax hikes.

Human rights groups say the latest incident underscores a deepening culture of police impunity in Kenya.

On the streets of Nairobi, the message was clear: Kenyans are tired of mourning.

With growing pressure on the Ruto administration and security forces, many fear that if accountability is not enforced now, the nation’s fragile social fabric could tear even further.

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