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| Albert Ojwang: Kenyan dies in custody after arrest for social media post | Albert Ojwang: Kenyan dies in custody after arrest for social media post |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Albert Ojwang has been described in reports as a teacher and a blogger | Albert Ojwang has been described in reports as a teacher and a blogger |
| Kenya's independent police oversight body has launched an investigation into the death of a man who had been detained "for false publication", police have said. | |
| Albert Ojwang was arrested for a post on X in the western town of Homa Bay and then driven 350km (220 miles) to the capital, Nairobi, his father Meshack Opiyo told journalists. | |
| "While in custody, the suspect sustained head injuries after hitting his head against a cell wall," a police statement said. He was rushed to hospital "where he was pronounced dead on arrival". | "While in custody, the suspect sustained head injuries after hitting his head against a cell wall," a police statement said. He was rushed to hospital "where he was pronounced dead on arrival". |
| The director of rights group Amnesty International's Kenya branch told the BBC that the death of Mr Ojwang, described as a teacher and blogger, was "very suspicious". | |
| Amnesty said in a statement that his death "raises serious questions that must be urgently, thoroughly, and independently investigated". | Amnesty said in a statement that his death "raises serious questions that must be urgently, thoroughly, and independently investigated". |
| Senior police officer Stephen Okal is quoted by the Star newspaper as saying what happened in the cell was "an attempted suicide". | Senior police officer Stephen Okal is quoted by the Star newspaper as saying what happened in the cell was "an attempted suicide". |
| It is not clear what the charge of "false publication" referred to, but Mr Opiyo told online news site Citizen Digital that the arresting police officer said "Albert had insulted a senior person on X", the social media platform. | It is not clear what the charge of "false publication" referred to, but Mr Opiyo told online news site Citizen Digital that the arresting police officer said "Albert had insulted a senior person on X", the social media platform. |
| Referring to the circumstances of his arrest, Amnesty International Kenya director Irungu Houghton said it was "quite shocking" that Mr Ojwang was not booked in at the local police station after being detained, but was instead taken on a long journey. | Referring to the circumstances of his arrest, Amnesty International Kenya director Irungu Houghton said it was "quite shocking" that Mr Ojwang was not booked in at the local police station after being detained, but was instead taken on a long journey. |
| He called on the independent investigators to secure what he described as "the crime scene" at the police station in Nairobi. | He called on the independent investigators to secure what he described as "the crime scene" at the police station in Nairobi. |
| The police said that Mr Ojwang was "lawfully arrested". | The police said that Mr Ojwang was "lawfully arrested". |
| His detention and death comes at a time of rising concern about how some government critics are being treated. | His detention and death comes at a time of rising concern about how some government critics are being treated. |
| Last week, software developer Rose Njeri - who created a tool to help people oppose a government finance bill - was charged with violating a cybercrime law. | Last week, software developer Rose Njeri - who created a tool to help people oppose a government finance bill - was charged with violating a cybercrime law. |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| Why Kenya's president has so many nicknames | Why Kenya's president has so many nicknames |
| The 'tax collector' president sparking Kenyan anger | The 'tax collector' president sparking Kenyan anger |
| BBC identifies security forces who shot Kenya anti-tax protesters | BBC identifies security forces who shot Kenya anti-tax protesters |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica |