By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A Kenyan police officer has appeared in court in connection with the torture and killing of a blogger, Albert Ojwang, in police custody.
Ojwang, 31, died in police custody last weekend after he was arrested over a post on X that was allegedly critical of Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Eliud Lagat.
His death sparked protests in the capital, Nairobi, after doctors refuted a police claim that he had died from self-inflicted injuries caused by hitting his head on a cell wall.
A team of medical personnel, including state pathologists, concluded that it was likely the result of an assault while in custody.
At least 23 people, including 17 police officers, have been questioned, while five others were removed from active duty as the independent investigation continues.
Police Constable James Mukhwana, after his court appearance, has been remanded in custody until his bail application is heard next week.
Preliminary investigations allege that the constable, together with other suspects still at large, “was likely involved in the planning and execution” of Mr Ojwang’s killing, court papers submitted by detectives said.
PC Mukhwana is also alleged to have been involved in tampering with CCTV cameras at Nairobi’s Central Police Station in an attempt to cover up the killing.
The policeman is yet to respond to the accusations, but his lawyer asked the court to grant him bail, saying the constable willingly submitted himself to the authorities when summoned.
In an initial statement, police said Mr Ojwang was found unconscious in his cell and rushed to a city hospital, where he succumbed to head injuries allegedly sustained from banging his head against the wall.
But an autopsy report and an investigation by the police watchdog, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), ruled out the possibility that Mr Ojwang might have killed himself.
Inspector-General of Police, Douglas Kanja, has since retracted the earlier statement and apologised for what he called “misinformation” from his juniors.
Police on Friday arrested a technician who is suspected to have disabled the surveillance system in Central Police Station, effectively covering up potential evidence on Mr Ojwang’s killing, local media reported.
On Thursday, hundreds of protesters angered by the killing took to the streets of Nairobi, calling for the resignation of Deputy Inspector-General Lagat.
He is facing mounting pressure from the public, opposition leaders, and civil society groups to step aside or be suspended.
