Tensions boiled over in Nairobi on Tuesday as protesters demanding justice for a slain blogger were met with brutal violence, leaving one person dead and many injured in what rights groups are calling a dangerous descent into lawlessness.

Demonstrators had gathered in Kenya’s capital to condemn the death of 31-year-old Albert Ojwang, a teacher and blogger who died under suspicious circumstances just days after being detained by police in Homa Bay. The protest quickly turned chaotic when dozens of unidentified men on motorbikes descended on the crowd, wielding whips and crude weapons, shouting “No protest” as they beat demonstrators with impunity.

Footage broadcast by local media showed the violent scenes unfolding in broad daylight, with police reportedly standing by as the attacks took place. A Reuters journalist at the scene confirmed one fatality, though the identity and cause of death remain unclear.

“We see hundreds of paid goons, with whips and weapons, brutalising our people while the state turns a blind eye,” said Ndungi Githuku, a civil rights activist with Kongamano La Mapinduzi. “This is not just about Albert Ojwang anymore—this is about the state sanctioning terror on its own citizens.”

Amnesty International Kenya condemned the use of hired gangs, warning that such tactics threaten to further erode public trust and fuel unrest. “The use of militia will escalate confrontation, lawlessness and chaos,” the organisation said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Ojwang’s death has ignited widespread outrage across the country. Arrested earlier this month after allegedly criticising Deputy Police Chief Eliud Lagat on social media, he died just two days later in police custody. An initial police report claimed he had fatally injured himself by banging his head against a cell wall—a narrative publicly contradicted by government pathologists, who concluded that the injuries were caused by blunt force trauma and were “unlikely to be self-inflicted.”

The autopsy results only added fuel to public anger. Protests have since spread to other parts of the country, including Mombasa, where demonstrators carried signs reading “Stop Killing Us.”

“I was cornered by the men on bikes. They beat us with whips while the police just watched,” said Hanifa Adan, a vocal figure in last year’s Gen Z-led tax protests.

President William Ruto acknowledged the state's role in the tragedy on Friday, calling Ojwang’s death “heartbreaking and unacceptable.” He vowed to protect citizens from "rogue police officers" and said accountability would follow.

So far, two senior police officers and one civilian have been arrested in connection to the case. Deputy Police Chief Lagat has also temporarily stepped down amid mounting pressure and scrutiny.

But for many Kenyans, justice remains elusive. According to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), over 20 people have died in police custody in the past four months alone—a chilling reminder that Ojwang’s case is not isolated.

“The killing of Albert Ojwang is not just a moment—it is a mirror,” said Githuku. “And what we’re seeing reflected back is a country slipping further away from justice.”


By WafricNews Desk.