Kenya Police Teargas Nairobi Protests Over Influencer Ojwang Death

Protests erupted in Nairobi's Central Business District demanding justice for Albert Ojwang, a social media influencer who died in police custody under suspicious circumstances. Demonstrators, occupying key roads including Harambee Avenue and attempting to breach Parliament's security perimeter, called for the resignation of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat, whom Ojwang had criticized on social media before his arrest. Police responded with tear gas and other crowd-control tactics to disperse the crowds, especially as Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi was set to read the 2025/2026 Budget. Ojwang was arrested for alleged "false publication" and transported over 350 kilometers to Nairobi, where he was found dead; initial police claims of suicide were contradicted by post-mortem findings indicating violent assault. Civil society leaders and activists condemned the handling of the case, accusing the police of a cover-up and calling for independent investigations, with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority launching an inquiry. The incident has reignited public outrage over police violence in Kenya, reminiscent of previous brutal crackdowns on protests.