A police station in western Kenya was set on fire on Thursday as thousands took to the streets carrying the coffin of a man who died in police custody last month, according to local media reports.
The demonstrators were protesting the death of 31-year-old Albert Ojwang, a teacher who was found dead in a police cell in Nairobi after being arrested in Homa Bay County. His death has sparked widespread outrage and reignited concerns about police brutality in Kenya.
Videos circulating online—which have not been independently verified—show large crowds marching through Homa Bay with Ojwang’s coffin ahead of his funeral, scheduled for Friday.
During the procession, demonstrators reportedly stormed and burned down the Mawego Police Station, where Ojwang had initially been held before being transferred to the capital.
Credit: Luis TATO / AFP
Police had initially claimed Ojwang took his own life, but a post-mortem conducted by government pathologists later concluded that he had been killed.
Ojwang was arrested for allegedly posting online criticism of Deputy Police Inspector General Eliud Lagat. Although Lagat later “stepped aside” during the investigation, demonstrators have continued to demand his resignation and criminal prosecution.
So far, six people—including three police officers—have been formally charged with murder in connection with Ojwang’s death.
Earlier this month, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority revealed that 18 people have died in police custody across Kenya in the past four months alone.
