Widespread protests have erupted across Kenya following the death of Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher and blogger, in police custody. Ojwang died two days after being arrested in Homa Bay, western Kenya, for allegedly criticizing the country’s deputy police chief, Eliud Lagat. His death has sparked public outrage and demands for accountability, especially after an autopsy revealed that his injuries—blunt force trauma—were unlikely to be self-inflicted, contradicting earlier claims by police that he had fatally injured himself by banging his head against a cell wall.

The situation escalated further during the latest protests when Kenyan police shot an unarmed bystander at close range in Nairobi. Witnesses say the man, believed to be a street vendor, was standing on a sidewalk when he was caught in a confrontation with two officers. A masked police officer reportedly shot him in the head with what appeared to be a shotgun. The victim is currently being treated at Kenya’s largest government hospital for gunshot wounds. The police later confirmed the incident, expressed concern, and stated that the officer involved had been arrested.

Alongside this shooting, violence broke out in downtown Nairobi when hundreds of men on motorbikes, some wielding whips and clubs, attacked protesters. Video footage shared by NTV captured the attackers shouting “No protest!” The attacks were condemned by Amnesty International’s Kenya chapter, which warned that the use of militia-style violence could escalate lawlessness and chaos. Civil rights activist Ndungi Githuku of Kongamano La Mapinduzi also criticized the government’s handling of the situation, saying Kenya was turning into a “lawless country” where “paid goons” are allowed to brutalize citizens with impunity.

Prominent activist Hanifa Adan, known for her role in last year’s Gen Z-led protests, recounted being overwhelmed and whipped by the motorbike-riding attackers while police officers looked on without intervening. Similar demonstrations occurred in Kenya’s second-largest city, Mombasa, where protesters carried placards reading “Stop killing us,” further underscoring the national scale of the unrest.

President William Ruto addressed the issue on Friday, admitting that Ojwang had died “at the hands of the police” and described the incident as “heartbreaking and unacceptable.” He pledged to protect Kenyan citizens from rogue officers and promised accountability. His remarks followed the arrest of a police officer directly linked to Ojwang’s death. As the investigation progresses, two senior police officials and a civilian have also been taken into custody.

In a further development, Deputy Police Chief Eliud Lagat, the official Ojwang had reportedly criticized, announced that he would temporarily step down from his position to allow investigations to proceed transparently.

The protests and government response reflect a deeper, long-standing concern about police brutality in Kenya. Human rights organizations have highlighted the alarming trend of deaths in police custody. In just the past four months, over 20 people have died under police detention, according to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority. Moreover, over 60 people were reportedly killed by security forces during anti-tax protests in June and July of the previous year.

This growing unrest, sparked by Ojwang’s death and intensified by excessive police force and militia violence, has laid bare Kenya’s ongoing struggle with police reform, accountability, and human rights.