Anti-riot police are engaging demonstrators in running battles inside Nairobi’s Central Business District as irrate youth take to the streets demanding justice for Albert Ojwang, the 31-year-old teacher and blogger who died in police custody.
Chanting slogans and waving placards bearing Ojwang’s image and those of other victims of police brutality, protesters are calling for the prosecution of Deputy Inspector-General of Police Eliud Lagat, who allegedly instigated Ojwang’s arrest.
The protests follow a damning autopsy that ruled out suicide claims which the police later retracted and confirmed Ojwang died from head trauma and neck compression consistent with assault.
Police constable James Mukhwana confessed on Monday to his involvement in the incident and implicated a chain of command that allegedly extends to the top brass of the National Police Service.
Mukhwana, in a detailed statement to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), revealed he acted under direct orders from Central Police Station OCS Samson Talaam, who in turn allegedly received instructions from Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Eliud Lagat, who has since stepped aside pending investigations.
Despite stepping aside, pressure continues to mount on DIG Lagat to resign and face murder charges.
