Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen is currently appearing before the Senate Plenary, to answer questions on the circumstances that led to the death of blogger Albert Ojwang’ in police custody.
CS Murkomen is expected to respond to various questions that touch on the country’s security, but a closer scope on the death of Ojwang’ in the hands of the police on Sunday, June 8.
Migori County Senator Eddy Oketch, who brought the matter before the House, acknowledging that Ojwang’s murder had caused nation-wide grief and outrage among Kenyans, said the matter raised serious concerns about police brutality and lack of immediate accountability by the responsible officers.
According to Senator Oketch, the Senate sought to know;
- The circumstances that led to the death of Albert Ojwang’, including a detailed account of the events surrounding his fatal injury,
- Actions taken by the National Police Service (NPS) and the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the incident, including whether any officers involved have been interdicted or subjected to disciplinary or criminal proceedings, and
- The measures Interior Ministry and NPS are implementing to prevent police brutality and ensure accountability, particularly in handling civilians during law enforcement operations.
In this sitting, we want to be very clear of who in the eye of CS Murkomen, who in the eye of IG Douglas Kanja are the suspects in this matter? When Hon. Ong’ondo Were was murdered, the suspects wrote their statements while in custody. Why is this matter different?
“The IG of police informed the nation that Albert Ojwang hit his head on the wall, therefore suggesting that he killed himself,” Senator Oketch posed. “The country must know, where did he get this information, and now that autopsy conducted on the body says the contrary, what has the Minister done in terms of taking responsibilities on those two accounts.”
While regretting the incident, CS Murkomen vowed that his Ministry will ensure a proper investigations has been conducted.
Murkomen assured the nation that every police officer involved in the murder of Ojwang will be dealt with expeditiously. “Accountability for police brutality is not negotiable or debatable,” he stated.
