Tensions flared in Nairobi on Tuesday as demonstrations turned violent following the controversial death of Kenyan blogger Albert Ojwang while in police custody. One protester was fatally shot in the head during the unrest, allegedly by an individual who appeared to be a police officer.
Eyewitnesses and circulating social media footage captured the harrowing scene as the victim fell after being shot at close range. The shooting happened amid chaos when motorcyclists known locally as “goons” descended on peaceful demonstrators, armed with whips and clubs.
The protest had gathered momentum in response to Ojwang’s death, with activists calling for justice and the resignation of Deputy Police Chief Eliud Lagat, who was the subject of the blogger’s final posts before his arrest. Protesters demanded an end to police brutality, alleging collusion between police forces and hired attackers.
Kenya Police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga, when contacted, claimed ignorance of the fatality, saying he was unaware that anyone had been killed during the protest.
Amnesty International’s Kenya office posted on X, noting the presence of “dozens of motorbikes carrying hooded passengers, who were seen whipping protesters and members of the public.”
Activists condemned what they see as a pattern of inaction and complicity. “The goons attacked us. They cornered us and beat us with whips, and the police were just watching them do it,” said Hanifa Adan, a leading voice from Kenya’s Gen Z protest movement.
“Police, shame on you, stop siding with the goons, side with the citizens who pay your salary through our taxes.”
A demonstrator
Outrage as Kenyan Blogger Dies in Police Custody
Ojwang’s arrest earlier this month stemmed from posts in which he allegedly defamed Deputy Police Chief Lagat. Initially, law enforcement claimed the blogger died after “hitting his head against a cell wall.” But an autopsy contradicted that narrative, pointing instead to injuries consistent with an assault.
The controversy prompted a rare admission from the top. President William Ruto acknowledged that Ojwang had died “at the hands of the police.” Subsequently, two police officers were arrested in connection with the incident, although the probe remains ongoing. Lagat, meanwhile, temporarily stepped down from his position as investigations proceed.
Tuesday’s violent crackdown has reignited longstanding fears about Kenya’s approach to civil unrest. Activists say Ojwang’s death has become a symbol of deeper, systemic abuse within the police force and the impunity with which officers act.
Memories are still fresh from last year’s deadly Gen Z-led protests, which erupted in June 2024 in opposition to sweeping tax increases. On June 25, demonstrators stormed Parliament, prompting police to fire live rounds into the crowd. That day alone, at least 22 people were killed. By the end of the protests, at least 39 had died, hundreds had sustained injuries, and dozens were reportedly abducted or arbitrarily detained.
Rights organizations condemned the excessive force, reporting injuries caused by gunfire, rubber bullets, and tear gas. Medics and journalists were not spared, with some becoming victims of targeted assaults.
The pattern is not new. In 2023, Kenya witnessed another wave of protests against austerity measures. Authorities responded with brutal force: 61 demonstrators were killed and 73 abducted, according to human rights groups. Enforced disappearances nearly quintupled compared to the previous year.
In each case, security forces have been accused of excessive brutality, unlawful detentions, and intimidation of the press. Repeated calls for transparency and accountability have largely gone unanswered, leading to public disillusionment and repeated cycles of violence.
Despite mounting domestic and international condemnation, change has been slow. Tuesday’s protest and its tragic outcome underline the urgent need for reform in Kenya’s policing culture.
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