Kakamega: Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Kakamega have urged the government to end police brutality that has cut short the dreams of a promising young Kenyan, Albert Ojwang. They urged the government to take measures that will restore the confidence of Kenyans in the police service as they go about their daily activities even as they recount the unfortunate circumstances under which Ojwang lost his life.
According to Kenya News Agency, the CSOs expressed their sadness over the violations of the law by some police officers, who instead of arresting and presenting suspects to be charged in a court of law, resort to torturing them. Speaking to the media in Kakamega town, the CSOs, led by the President of Young Patriots for Unity and Progress (YPUP), Daniel Adika, described the gruesome murder of Ojwang as an outright gross violation of human rights.
Adika stated, "The murder of Ojwang is an act that goes against human rights and the universal human rights that dictate that life is sacred and must be protected and guarded by every means possible. Albert lost his life at the hands of people who are supposed to protect him, he lost his life in a police cell, a place that every one of us believe to be very safe and secure." He emphasized that the unfortunate death of Ojwang should be the last to occur within police confines, calling for immediate action against those involved and for justice to be served to the family.
The Executive Director of the Western Community Development and Empowerment Centre, Ibrahim Karim Makokha, also called for action against the officers involved in Ojwang's murder. Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula has demanded the immediate arraignment in court of those involved in Ojwang's arrest and subsequent death due to injuries sustained while in police custody.
Savula stated, "Those officers who were suspended and senior police officers in the police who were involved in this must be arraigned in court; that is the only solution; forget about politics around this matter, this is a crime scene; the suspects are there, the evidence is there, let the suspect be arraigned in court."