Raila: Ojwang’s death erodes State, police credibility
ODM leader Raila Odinga addressing the press in Nairobi on November 15,2024.
What you need to know:
- Mr Odinga said that it was unfortunate that Mr Ojwang’ joins the “horrifying” long list of young and defenceless Kenyans whose lives have been cut short in brutal and senseless circumstances at the hands of the police.
- “While these deaths cause tremendous pain to individuals and their families, they seriously erode the authority and credibility of the police and the state; and that is a significant step towards chaos and collapse,” the ODM leader warned in a statement from Bangkok, Thailand.
The leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Raila Odinga, has condemned the mysterious death of Albert Ojwang’, a teacher and blogger from Voi, while in police custody. He described this as an erosion of the “authority and credibility of the police and the state”.
Mr Odinga said that it was unfortunate that Mr Ojwang’ joins the “horrifying” long list of young and defenceless Kenyans whose lives have been cut short in brutal and senseless circumstances at the hands of the police.
“While these deaths cause tremendous pain to individuals and their families, they seriously erode the authority and credibility of the police and the state; and that is a significant step towards chaos and collapse,” the ODM leader warned in a statement from Bangkok, Thailand.
Mr Ojwang is said to have been arrested by police officers for an alleged offensive social media post targeting a senior police officer.
On Monday, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja said that his deputy, Eliud Lagat, was the complainant in the alleged offence.
“Nobody knows who gave the orders for Mr Ojwang to be arrested and ferried all the way to Nairobi — and yet that person should be answering to Kenyans,” said Mr Odinga.
Calling for immediate and credible investigations, the opposition leader said that the incident was not isolated but part of a disturbing pattern of police brutality against defenceless Kenyans.
He warned that, unless urgent reforms are instituted, such killings risk pushing the country towards a breakdown in law and order.
“When citizens can no longer tell the difference between police injustice and mob injustice, we are staring at the reality of failure as a nation,” he said.
Mr Odinga called on the National Police Service to be transparent about the incident and publicly account for all officers involved.
“A speedy and credible closure to this latest incident of injustice in the hands of the police, alongside the many others that we have been pursuing since 2023, is not optional,” he said.
“The National Police Service must commit to and take concrete actions to hold their own accountable, beginning with this senseless death of Albert Ojwang’.”
This incident has added to the growing public concern surrounding alleged extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. Human rights defenders are urging the government to implement the recommendations of previous inquests and audit the conduct of rogue officers.
“This cannot be swept under the rug. Albert’s life matters,” Mr Odinga insisted.
Elsewhere, Green Congress of Kenya party leader Hilary Alila and United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Nyanza coordinator George Ayugi also condemned Mr Ojwang’s killing, urging immediate action to apprehend the culprits.
"What happened to Albert Ojwang’ is not just tragic—it is a criminal act by those who swore to protect us. This culture of extrajudicial killings must stop. We cannot continue burying our youth because someone in uniform feels untouchable," Mr Alila said.
Mr Ayugi added that those responsible for Mr Ojwang’s death must be held accountable, noting that their actions were eroding public trust in the state.
“We want answers. Who authorized Albert's arrest? Who transported him to Nairobi? And who is responsible for his death in custody? These are not rhetorical questions. We demand accountability, not silence and all those involved must take immediate responsibility," Mr Ayugi said.
Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga also voiced her concerns following Mr Ojwang’s death, describing it as a 'painful reminder that many young Kenyans are living at the mercy of a rogue system'.
“This is no longer just about one incident, it is a pattern of state violence that must be dismantled,” Ms Odinga said.
"A young man should not die because of a social media post. This is a violation of basic freedoms. If our youth cannot express themselves without fear of death, then we have failed them as leaders."