KENYAN police tear-gassed activists as they marched to Nairobi’s main police station during a protest on Monday against the death of a blogger in police custody.

Albert Ojwang was found dead while in custody at the Central Police Station and police attributed his death to “hitting his head against the cell wall,” but activists have questioned the cause of death.

Mr Ojwang was arrested on Friday in Homa Bay in western Kenya and driven 248 miles to Nairobi for what police said was publishing “false information” about a top police official on social media.

This blogger’s death comes almost a year after several activists and protesters were killed and abducted by Kenyan police during finance bill protests in 2024.

Economic frustration remains high, despite the proposed taxes being scrapped last year.

Ndungi Githuku, an activist from the People’s Liberation Party, said: “Our demands are still not met. The joblessness they had last year is tenfold. The killings are still happening. 

“So, nothing was resolved out of the protests that we had. We have freedom that is half baked.

“This country belongs to the rich, so it is time for the poor to rise. This is what is going to happen in a few days” (on the anniversary of last year’s unrest).

The Kenyan police said the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched an investigation into the death.

Officers who were on duty when Mr Ojwang died in custody will also not be returning to work while they await the outcome of investigations, said police inspector-general Douglas Kanja.

However, many are sceptical of the proceedings.

Hussein Khalid from the Vocal Africa human rights organisation said: “Until now they (Kenya Police) have not told us the truth. We know there were more injuries. They have decided to sacrifice junior officers. We want justice for Ojwang and many others who have lost their lives.” 

Rights group Amnesty Kenya said in a statement that Mr Ojwang’s arrest raises serious questions and that the results of the IPOA report must be made public and any officers found responsible must be held fully accountable.

Activist Ouma Paul Oyao said: “We are in an era whereby speaking against the government is a crime, complaining against poor leadership and mismanagement of public affairs is a crime. 

“I pity (Ojwang’s) five-month-old baby and wife. I am protesting [against] extrajudicial killings — one of us is all of us.”