Kenya police officer arrested over blogger’s death in custody

Hundreds of radical person joined protests implicit the decease successful constabulary custody of governmental blogger Albert Ojwang.

A Kenyan constabulary serviceman has been arrested successful transportation with the decease of Albert Ojwang, a governmental blogger who died successful constabulary custody, successful a lawsuit that has reignited anger implicit constabulary maltreatment and triggered thoroughfare protests successful Nairobi.

Police spokesperson Michael Muchiri said connected Friday that a constable had been taken into custody, the AFP quality bureau reported.

He did not springiness further information, referring queries to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which is starring the investigation. There was nary contiguous remark from the IPOA.

Ojwang, 31, was declared dormant connected Sunday, 2 days aft his apprehension successful the municipality of Homa Bay successful occidental Kenya for allegedly criticising the country’s lawman constabulary main Eliud Lagat.

The constabulary initially claimed Ojwang fatally injured himself by banging his caput against a compartment wall, but an autopsy revealed injuries that pathologists said were “unlikely to beryllium self-inflicted”.

The government’s ain pathologist recovered signs of blunt unit trauma, cervix compression and brushed insubstantial injuries, suggesting an assault. Independent pathologist Bernard Midia, who assisted with the post-mortem, besides ruled retired suicide.

Amid increasing pressure, President William Ruto connected Wednesday said Ojwang had died “at the hands of the police”, reversing earlier authoritative accounts of his death.

The incidental has added substance to longstanding allegations of constabulary brutality and extrajudicial killings successful Kenya, peculiarly pursuing past year’s antigovernment demonstrations. Rights groups accidental dozens were unlawfully detained aft the protests, with immoderate inactive unaccounted for.

Earlier this week, 5 officers were suspended to let for what the constabulary described arsenic a “transparent” inquiry.

On Thursday, protesters flooded the streets of the capital, waving Kenyan flags and chanting “Lagat indispensable go”, demanding the resignation of the elder constabulary authoritative Ojwang had criticised.

Ruto connected Friday pledged swift enactment and said that his medication would “protect citizens from rogue constabulary officers”. While Ruto has repeatedly promised to extremity enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, quality rights groups impeach his authorities of shielding information agencies from accountability.

According to IPOA, 20 radical person died successful constabulary custody successful conscionable the past 4 months. The decease of Ojwang, a vocal online critic, has go a awesome of increasing nationalist vexation with unchecked constabulary power.

International unit is mounting, with some the United States and European Union calling for a transparent and autarkic probe into Ojwang’s death.

Source:

Al Jazeera and quality agencies