Three Kenyan police officers are now facing murder charges for the death of blogger Albert Ojwang, who died in custody after being arrested for a social media post. The BBC reports on the case, highlighting autopsy findings of assault and public outrage.
Three Kenyan police officers have been charged with the murder of Albert Omondi Ojwang, a teacher and blogger who died in police custody earlier this month. The case has drawn national outrage and renewed scrutiny of police conduct in Kenya, according to BBC reporting.
Ojwang, 31, was arrested in Homa Bay on June 7, 2025, after a complaint by Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat over a social media post alleged to have defamed him.
He was transferred over 350 kilometers to Nairobi’s Central Police Station, where he died on June 8. Police initially claimed Ojwang had died from self-inflicted injuries, but an autopsy led by the state pathologist
Dr. Bernard Midia found he suffered severe head trauma, neck compression, and multiple soft tissue injuries—clear evidence of assault.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) investigated the incident, uncovering witness testimony from neighboring cells of screams the night Ojwang died and allegations that CCTV cameras were disabled to conceal the crime.
Six suspects—Officer Commanding Station Samson Talaam, police officers John Mukhwana and Peter Kimani, and civilians John Gitau, Gin Abwao, and Brian Njue—have been charged under Section 204 of Kenya’s Penal Code, which prescribes the death penalty for murder. The suspects are scheduled to appear at the Kibera Law Courts.
Officer James Mukhwana, who was arrested and appeared in court, allegedly admitted to investigators that the intent was to “discipline” Ojwang, not to kill him. Mukhwana is also accused of interfering with CCTV footage at the station. Officer Commanding Station Samson Talaam and another officer, Peter Kimani, were also detained and now face murder charges.
President William Ruto described the incident as “heartbreaking and unacceptable,” urging police to cooperate fully with the investigation and promising justice for Ojwang’s family.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has noted a pattern of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, reporting 160 such cases last year and at least 20 deaths in custody in the past four months.
The case has sparked nationwide protests, with demonstrators demanding accountability and police reform. The judiciary has acted swiftly, with the three officers scheduled to appear at the Kibera Law Courts to face murder charges under Section 204 of Kenya’s Penal Code, which prescribes the death penalty for murder.
Ojwang’s widow, Nevnina Onyango, told the BBC his last words from the police station were, “I’ll see you soon.” His family remains devastated, with his father describing how his son’s body bore signs of torture and was not how he had entrusted him to the police.
The charges against the three police officers mark a pivotal moment in Kenya’s ongoing struggle for police accountability and human rights. The case is being closely watched as a test of the government’s commitment to ending police brutality and ensuring justice for victims and their families.
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