MPs pile pressure on Ruto, IG Kanja to punish Ojwang killers

Members of Parliament piled pressure on President William Ruto and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to charge those behind Albert Ojwang's murder.

The legislators, while castigating extrajudicial killings under the Kenya Kwanza administration, also called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to expedite investigations and ensure justice is served.

They also demanded Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat's resignation. Kisumu West MP Rozah Mbuyu called on DIG Lagat to step aside. "It is really a mockery of justice; you have somebody who has done the conflict to be part of the team investigating the death of this young man. Step aside. Let your desire see meaningful investigation by the police,” remarked Buyu.

The matter dominated debate on the floor of the House yesterday after Nyando MP Jared Okello sought a statement from the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, regarding circumstances surrounding the death of the teacher and social media influencer.

He also sought to know the immediate disciplinary and administrative actions taken against the officers who apprehended and transferred the victim to Nairobi, and those who were on duty during the incident.

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Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo called on President Ruto to ensure the police officers behind the death of Ojwang be charged and prosecuted fast. “The problem in this country is sometimes people are arrested and when the anger goes down, the case disappears. To show seriousness, this case should be fast-tracked. If IPOA is not in a position to, occasionally the government should hire external investigators,” said Millie.

Nairobi Woman Rep Esther Passaris said after the autopsy report issued yesterday, Ojwang went through “a really brutal death”.

“What I ask for is absolute expedition of the investigation, and I ask the police for once to stand for the people of Kenya, to stand for justice and to change their ways. We're in a month where we want reparation and healing. We want this country to move forward,” she said

Marakwet East MP Kangogo Bowen regretted Ojwang’s death in the hands of those entrusted to ensure his security.

“It is sad that a young man who wrote something on social media had to die while in Kerio Valley, bandits are brutalising people, killing women and children and there's nothing happening to them. I want to ask the security heads to take this matter seriously,” added the MP.

Speaker Moses Wetangula ruled that the Administration and Internal Security Committee summons IG Kanja, IPOA and any other person of interest over Ojwang’s death and table a preliminary report by Thursday afternoon.

In an earlier media briefing, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, Kisumu West MP Rozah Buyu and Likoni MP Mishi Mboko demanded answers on the ferrying of Ojwang from his his home in Homa Bay to Nairobi and on who’s orders. They also termed the answers given by police about him committing suicide as a mockery to justice.

They also demanded the recordings of the entry of Ojwang to Central Police Station made public, and all the CCTV recordings in terms of how he was handed there, how he moved. From the point of his entry into that station, to the exit.

“It is now confirmed by the report that the gentleman was tortured, was killed, while in custody of the police. So we want all police officers who were involved in this matter in any way not to wait to be interdicted, but to resign if possible, for action to be taken by the National Police Service Commission, which is in charge of the security and control over the police, to direct the immediate suspension from the service,” stated Kaluma.