NAIROBI, Kenya

Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday condemned the death of blogger and schoolteacher Albert Ojwang while in police custody and ordered an investigation.

In his official statement, Ruto expressed condolences to the deceased's family, describing the incident as "heartbreaking and unacceptable," and pledging a swift, transparent, and credible investigation into the matter.

Ojwang, 31, a teacher and popular X influencer, was arrested on Saturday in Homa Bay allegedly for posts critical of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Kipkoech Lagat. He was transferred to Nairobi on the same day and died in custody at Central Police Station.

A postmortem examination revealed blunt-force trauma and neck compression, contradicting previous police claims that Ojwang's injuries were self-inflicted.

“I take this moment to extend my heartfelt condolences to Mr. Meshack Ojwang and his family for the cruel loss of their beloved son,” the president said.

“This tragic occurrence, at the hands of the police, is heartbreaking and unacceptable. I strongly condemn the actions and omissions, including any negligence or outright criminality, that may have contributed to his untimely death,” he added.

Misconduct and criminality within police ranks must be confronted firmly, the president said, ordering the police to cooperate with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which is already investigating Ojwang’s death.

Rights organizations, including Amnesty International Kenya, the Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE), Vocal Africa, and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), have urged thorough, independent probes into Ojwang’s death.

Police fired tear gas to break up a protest in Nairobi on Monday, where demonstrators had gathered to demand justice for Albert Ojwang, further fueling public anger over police brutality and lack of accountability.

Kenya’s police have long been known for brutality and extrajudicial killings, with rights groups calling it a culture of violence and impunity.

Amnesty International documented 136 such killings in 2023 alone, while Human Rights Watch says officers routinely use excessive force, especially during protests, with little to no accountability.