Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has issued a strongly worded statement condemning what she termed as “disturbing wave of police brutality and extrajudicial killings” across the country.
Her statement released on Wednesday, June 18 morning comes in the wake of mounting national outrage over recent deaths linked to law enforcement officers.
Governor Wanga also described the killing of Albert Ojwang while in police custody as a tragedy that has shaken the national conscience. Ojwang’s death has sparked protests and reignited public debate about police accountability and human rights violations in Kenya.
Fisherman dies at Kipasi Police Post
She further highlighted other concerning incidents, including the mysterious death of Calvin Omondi Onditi, a fisherman in Mbita who reportedly “hanged himself” at the Kipasi Police Post.
“The post-mortem at the Homa Bay County Referral Hospital will reveal the truth,” she stated, signaling concern over the official explanation of events.
Referring to the shooting of a hawker during protests in Nairobi, Wanga pointed to the incident as further evidence of unchecked brutality.
“We watched a video of an unarmed young man selling masks, shot at point-blank range by a masked police officer,” she noted, adding that the act underscores “the brazen police brutality” being witnessed.
Governor Wanga says that on Wednesday, June 18, one Gabriel Mwita Chacha, 34, was taken to Homa Bay County Referral Hospital with life threatening injuries reportedly arising from police beating in Ringiti Island.
“Enough is enough. The perpetrators of these extrajudicial killing must face the full force of the law. The Kenya Police Service must carry their own cross. We condemn these atrocities and demand Accountability. The immediate prosecution of all officers involved, including those bearing command responsibility,” she added.
Wanga has also noted that the ODM-UDA agreement does not allow extrajudicial killings whatsoever, and that holds the broad-based government to account.
“We are holding the broad-based government to this commitment. Our support for the broad-based government does not extend to extrajudicial killing and police brutality. We draw the line on extrajudicial executions…illegal and unconstitutional repression is not part of the agreement,” she stated.
