Protests Erupt in Kenya Following Murder Charges Against Police Officers

The case of Albert Ojwang, a blogger who died in police custody, has led to outrage and protests across Kenya. Three officers have been charged with murder, prompting demands for accountability against police brutality.

Three police officers in Kenya have been charged with murder following the death of blogger Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody earlier this month. Ojwang's arrest came after a complaint from Kenya's deputy police chief, Eliud Lagat, who accused him of defaming him on social media. The filing has since led to intensified scrutiny of police conduct, with protests erupting across the nation demanding justice for Ojwang and an end to police brutality.

The three officers - Samson Kiprotich, Talaam James Mukhwana, and Peter Kimani - were charged alongside three civilians, with all six appearing in court but yet to enter pleas. Initial claims by police suggested Ojwang's death was due to self-inflicted wounds; however, an autopsy revealed he likely died from assault-related injuries, forcing authorities to retract their earlier statements.

Tragically, the protests have also seen an escalation of violence. Last week, in downtown Nairobi, a street vendor named Boniface Kariuki suffered life-threatening injuries after a police officer fired at him during a demonstration demanding justice for Ojwang. Activists have responded by organizing a "total shutdown" of the economy to elevate their demands against police violence, coinciding with the anniversary of past police violence against tax protestors in the country.

The unrest highlights ongoing concerns over the use of excessive force by law enforcement in Kenya, stirring a renewed call for accountability and change in the face of alarming patterns of violence.