Vehicles set on fire in Nairobi as protests escalate across Kenya

SOURCE:REUTERS- AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS

Protests in the Kenyan capital Nairobi flared up again on Monday as demonstrators set vehicles on fire and police fired tear gas to disperse crowds angry over the death of political blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody last week, Reuters TV footage showed.

The death of 31-year-old Ojwang, known for his writing on political and social issues, has thrown a new spotlight on the work of Kenya's security services, which have faced years of allegations of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.

Police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters in the city centre and at least two vehicles were set on fire, video footage showed. It came a day after President William Ruto said Ojwang had died "at the hands of the police", contradicting an earlier official version of events.

According to initial police reports, Ojwang was arrested in western Kenya on Friday for allegedly defaming Deputy Commissioner of Police Eliud Lagat online and reportedly died “after hitting his head on the wall of his cell”.

The Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched an investigation, while the European Union and the United States have called for a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances of the blogger’s death.

Protesters on Thursday demanded the resignation of Eliud Lagat, waving Kenyan flags and chanting “Lagat must go”.

The results of an autopsy, conducted by a team including pathologist Bernard Midia, showed that the cause of death was most likely physical assault — with head injuries, signs of asphyxiation and soft tissue damage.

On Wednesday, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kandja apologized to the Senate for earlier statements by the police that Ojwang had allegedly committed suicide.

"Based on the IPOA report… that's not true. He didn't hit his head against the wall," said Claw.