Outrage in Kenya: Blogger dies in custody, vendor shot in protest

Kenya is reeling after two back-to-back incidents involving alleged police brutality—one resulting in the death of a 31-year-old blogger, the other leaving a street vendor fighting for his life.

Albert Ojwang, a vocal blogger, died earlier this month while in police custody. He had been arrested after Kenya’s Deputy Police Chief, Eliud Lagat, accused him of defamation over posts made on social media. Lagat has since stepped aside while investigations continue, though he denies any wrongdoing.

The initial police report claimed Ojwang died by suicide. But that narrative crumbled when an autopsy revealed signs of blunt force trauma, suggesting he was beaten. The public responded with fury, taking to the streets in protest.

On Monday, three police officers—Samson Kiprotich, Talaam James Mukhwana, and Peter Kimani—were formally charged with Ojwang’s murder, alongside three civilians. All six appeared in court but did not enter pleas.

As protests intensified last week, another tragedy unfolded. Boniface Kariuki, a 26-year-old street vendor selling face masks in Nairobi, was shot at close range by a police officer during a demonstration. Video footage shows Kariuki walking away, unarmed, when an officer—his face concealed—opened fire, striking him in the head.

Kariuki remains in critical condition at Kenyatta National Hospital. According to family members, he cannot see, hear, or speak and is surviving only with the help of life support machines.

“Boniface didn’t pose any threat. He was just doing his job,” said his father, Jonah Kariuki, who, like his son, is also a hawker. His mother, Susan Njeri, was devastated: “He’s never stolen. He wasn’t part of the riot. They found him working.”

The violent turn of events has sparked fresh outrage, with rights groups and activists calling for accountability and an end to police violence. A nationwide “shutdown” has been declared for Wednesday, coinciding with the one-year anniversary of deadly protests against a controversial tax hike that also ended in bloodshed.

Foreign diplomats and human rights bodies have also weighed in, urging the Kenyan government to ensure justice is served and those responsible are held accountable.

With tensions running high and public trust in law enforcement eroding, Kenyans are once again demanding meaningful reform and protection of civil liberties.