Kenyan police officers charged with blogger

Three police officers in Kenya were accused of the murder of a 31-year-old blogger who died in police custody earlier this month.

The death of Albert Ojwang aroused indignation in Kenya with demonstrations held to demand justice.

Ojwang was arrested after the deputy chief of the Kenya police, Eliud Lagat, filed a complaint, accusing the blogger of having defamed him on social networks.

Lagat retired last week while waiting for the outcome of the death of Ojwang’s death. He denied any reprehensible act.

The three police officers – Samson Kiprotich, Talaam James Mukhwana and Peter Kimani – were charged with three civilians.

All six appeared in court on Monday, but have not yet pleaded.

Police initially said that Ojwang died of self-inflicted injury, but had been forced to withdraw the declaration after an autopsy found that he was probably deceased in fact -eping injuries.

A street seller was killed during a demonstration last week in the capital, Nairobi, about the death of Mr. Ojwang, aroused a renewal of the indignation of Kenyans who accuse the police of having used excessive force against the demonstrators.

Boniface Kariuki sold masks when a uniform policeman pulled a bullet at close range, seriously injuring him.

Activists called for a “total closure” of the economy on Wednesday as they intensified protests against police brutality, and mark a year since the security forces opened fire on the protest crowd against an increase in taxes.

During the demonstrations last Tuesday, Kariuki held a pack of facial masks when he was taken in a confrontation with two officers in Nairobi while hundreds of demonstrators clashed with the police.

An officer, who had hidden his face with a mask, was filmed by pulling him in his head while he was walking away.

“Watch this Boniface video that is turned was heartbreaking. He just sold masks. How could someone hurt someone who had done nothing wrong? It scared me,” said Jonah Kariuki, the seller’s father, the BBC.

Mr. Kariuki Senior, who is also a peddler, said that his son was the family winner and called for the pursuit of the police involved, if they are found guilty of the shelter.

“I was so shocked because my son was not armed with stones or clubs like other demonstrators who were seen armed. They found him doing his job. It hurt me because my son never stole anything,” said Susan Njeri, the mother of the victim.

Boniface Kariuki is treated at Kenyatta National Hospital, the largest reference establishment in Kenya, where he remains in critical condition.

“Boniface cannot speak. He cannot hear too. He cannot see us. To be sincere, he cannot survive without life support,” said Emily Wanjiru, family spokesperson, to the BBC.

The case aroused a widespread conviction, the demonstrators demanding the responsibility of the seller’s shooting and the previous death of Mr. Ojwang.

Foreign Embassies and Rights Defense Organizations have urged the government to ensure the transparency of surveys and to keep officials to account.