Kenya’s impartial police oversight physique has launched an investigation into the demise of a person who had been detained “for false publication”, police have mentioned.
Albert Ojwang was arrested for a submit on X within the western city of Homa Bay after which pushed 350km (220 miles) to the capital, Nairobi, his father Meshack Opiyo informed journalists.
“Whereas in custody, the suspect sustained head accidents after hitting his head towards a cell wall,” a police assertion mentioned. He was rushed to hospital “the place he was pronounced lifeless on arrival”.
The director of rights group Amnesty Worldwide’s Kenya department informed the BBC that the demise of Mr Ojwang, described as a trainer and blogger, was “very suspicious”.
Amnesty mentioned in an announcement that his demise “raises severe questions that should be urgently, completely, and independently investigated”.
Senior police officer Stephen Okal is quoted by the Star newspaper as saying what occurred within the cell was “an tried suicide”.
It’s not clear what the cost of “false publication” referred to, however Mr Opiyo informed on-line information website Citizen Digital that the arresting police officer mentioned “Albert had insulted a senior individual on X”, the social media platform.
Referring to the circumstances of his arrest, Amnesty Worldwide Kenya director Irungu Houghton mentioned it was “fairly surprising” that Mr Ojwang was not booked in on the native police station after being detained, however was as an alternative taken on a protracted journey.
He known as on the impartial investigators to safe what he described as “the crime scene” on the police station in Nairobi.
The police mentioned that Mr Ojwang was “lawfully arrested”.
His detention and demise comes at a time of rising concern about how some authorities critics are being handled.
Final week, software program developer Rose Njeri – who created a software to assist folks oppose a authorities finance invoice – was charged with violating a cybercrime legislation.
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[Getty Images/BBC]
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