Kenyan blogger was hit, assaulted to death, Autopsy reveals

A Kenyan blogger who died in police custody was hit on the head and his death was likely to have been caused by assault, a post-mortem has revealed.

This contradicts police claims that Albert Ojwang "sustained head injuries after hitting his head against a cell wall".

His death has sparked widespread outrage in Kenya, with rights groups demanding that police be held accountable. 

Mr Ojwang, 31, was detained following a complaint by the deputy police chief, who accused him of tarnishing his name on social media.

"The cause of death is very clear; head injury, neck compression and other injuries spread all over the body that are pointing towards assault," state pathologist Bernard Midia said.

Police have not yet commented on the findings.

Mr Ojwang was arrested in Homa Bay, a town in western Kenya, on Friday, over a post on X that was allegedly critical of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eliud Lagat.

He was subsequently transferred over 350km (220 miles) to the capital, Nairobi, and booked into the Central Police Station on Saturday.

Police said he was later found unconscious in his cell with self-inflicted injuries.

But an autopsy, conducted by five pathologists who released a unanimous report, revealed that Mr Ojwang had severe head injuries and suffered neck compression and multiple soft tissue trauma.