Tension gripped the city centre on Thursday as police used teargas to disperse protesters demanding justice for Albert Ojwang, a 27-year-old man who died under controversial circumstances in police custody.
Ojwang reportedly died early Sunday morning while detained at a Nairobi police station. His death has sparked public outrage, with family, friends, and rights activists accusing the police of foul play. According to witnesses, the protesters had gathered peacefully near Jogoo House, home to the National Police Service headquarters, with plans to march to Harambee Avenue.
Chanting slogans and carrying placards bearing Ojwang’s name, the demonstrators demanded accountability from law enforcement and called for an independent investigation into the incident. “We will not be silenced until justice is served,” one protester shouted before police intervened.
However, their demonstration was short-lived. Anti-riot police, already stationed outside Jogoo House, blocked the group’s attempt to proceed toward Harambee Avenue, where Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi was scheduled to read the national budget. Officers claimed the gathering posed a security threat and violated public order laws.
When the protesters refused to disperse, police lobbed several teargas canisters into the crowd, causing panic and scattering the demonstrators. Many were seen fleeing in different directions, with some regrouping briefly along Moi Avenue before eventually dispersing entirely.
The use of force has drawn criticism from human rights organizations. “This heavy-handed approach only deepens the pain of Ojwang’s family and undermines public trust in the police,” said a representative from the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), which has called for a postmortem and full disclosure of the events leading to Ojwang’s death.
Meanwhile, the National Police Service has remained tight-lipped, only confirming that Ojwang died in custody and that internal investigations are underway.
As calls for justice grow louder, civil society groups are urging the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to step in and ensure accountability. “Kenyans must not live in fear of those sworn to protect them,” said one protest leader.
A vigil for Ojwang is being planned for the coming weekend as pressure mounts on authorities to act swiftly.
