A post-mortem examination revealed that Kenyan blogger Albert Ojwang sustained head injuries consistent with physical assault. Image: EPA
(The Post News)- A post-mortem has revealed that a Kenyan blogger who died in police custody suffered head injuries likely caused by physical assault. This finding contradicts earlier police statements claiming that Albert Ojwang sustained the injuries after hitting his head against a cell wall.
Ojwang was arrested in Homa Bay, a town in western Kenya on Friday for allegedly sharing false information online. He was later transferred more than 350 km (220 miles) to Nairobi and booked into the Central Police Station on Saturday, where he sustained the fatal injuries.
State pathologist Bernard Midia indicated that the cause of death involved head injuries, neck compression, and multiple wounds across the body, all of which suggest the victim may have been assaulted.
Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja withdrew the earlier police account that claimed Mr. Ojwang died after hitting his head against a wall. Speaking before the Senate on Wednesday, Kanja issued an apology on behalf of the National Police Service for the inaccurate information.
An autopsy carried out by a team of five pathologists, who issued a unanimous report, found that Mr. Ojwang had severe head injuries, neck compression, and multiple soft tissue traumas. Dr. Midia, who led the pathologists, stated that Mr. Ojwang’s injuries were not self-inflicted, contradicting the police’s claim that he had hit himself against a wall.
Dr. Midia explained that if Mr. Ojwang had inflicted the injuries on himself, the pattern would have been different, with bleeding primarily at the front of the head. Instead, the bleeding was found in various areas of the scalp, including the face, sides, and back of the head, he said during a press conference.
The pathologists concluded that the injuries were consistent with an external assault and noted evidence indicating a struggle had taken place.
Kenya’s Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has dismissed the suggestion that Mr. Ojwang took his own life. The agency also reported preliminary findings indicating that CCTV cameras at the Central Police Station had been tampered with.
Mr. Ojwang’s father, Meshack Ojwang, has called on President William Ruto to assist in seeking justice for his son.
The Digital Content Creators Association of Kenya honoured Mr. Ojwang, describing him as more than just a content creator. They said he represented the voice of young people, stood for resilience, and embodied the aspirations of a generation using digital media to drive change. They added that his legacy will continue to inspire and cannot be silenced.
Veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga has strongly condemned the “horrifying” death of Mr. Ojwang, stating that it adds to a troubling pattern of young and vulnerable Kenyans losing their lives prematurely under brutal and senseless circumstances involving the police.
Several officers who were on duty when Mr. Ojwang died have been “interdicted,” meaning they are suspended from their duties and will receive half their salaries pending the outcome of investigations, according to police spokesperson Michael Muchiri.
However, human rights organizations have called for stronger measures, suggesting the blogger’s death may have been an effort to intimidate and silence the digital community.
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