Kenyan police officers charged with blogger

Three police officers in Kenya have been charged with the murder of a 31-year-old blogger who died in police custody earlier this month.

Albert Ojwang’s death has sparked outrage in Kenya with protests held to demand justice.

Mr Ojwang was arrested after Kenya’s deputy police chief Eliud Lagat filed a complaint, accusing the blogger of defaming him on social media.

Mr Lagat stepped aside last week pending the outcome of investigations into Ojwang’s death. He has denied any wrongdoing.

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

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

Police initially said that Mr Ojwang died of self-inflicted wounds, but were forced to retract the statement after an autopsy found that he was likely to have died from assault wounds.

A street vendor was shot during a demonstration last week in the capital, Nairobi, over Mr Ojwang’s death, sparking renewed outrage from Kenyans who accuse police of using excessive force against protesters.

Boniface Kariuki was reportedly selling masks when a uniformed police officer fired a bullet at close range, critically injuring him.

Activists have called for a “total shutdown” of the economy on Wednesday as they step up protests against police brutality, and mark a year since the security forces opened fire on crowds protesting against an increases in taxes.