Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo Demands Justice for Albert Ojwang

 

By Wasike Elvis

Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo has issued a powerful statement condemning the killing of Albert Ojwang, calling it a "cruel silencing" of a young Kenyan life and demanding urgent action from the state to bring those responsible to justice.

In an emotionally charged address shared with the media and on her social platforms, Omanyo decried what she termed a systematic targeting of young voices in Kenya, expressing outrage over the continued rise of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings allegedly linked to state operatives.

“Albert Ojwang’s death was no accident. It was a cruel silencing,” Omanyo stated. “A young life taken in the cold hands of injustice. We will not be silent. We demand the truth. We demand accountability. We demand justice for Albert Ojwang.”

Albert Ojwang, a youth believed to be actively involved in social justice causes, reportedly went missing under suspicious circumstances before his body was found days later in Nairobi. Civil society groups and his family allege that he was abducted and later killed by individuals suspected to be police officers or state agents.

Omanyo joins a growing list of political leaders and human rights defenders calling for an independent investigation into Ojwang’s death. She emphasized the urgent need to overhaul Kenya’s policing and intelligence systems, stating that "no democratic nation should operate in fear of its own government."

“The killing of Albert is not just a crime against one family; it is a crime against the nation. His blood stains the conscience of our country. If we do not speak out now, more young people will die in silence,” she said.

Omanyo also urged Parliament to summon top security officials to answer for the continued rise in politically linked killings and disappearances, adding that the legislature cannot afford to remain silent while Kenyans are “hunted down for their beliefs or associations.”

Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International Kenya and the Kenya Human Rights Commission, have also condemned the killing and called for urgent action by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).

As calls for justice grow, the government has yet to release an official statement on the incident. The National Police Service has also not confirmed whether an internal investigation is underway.

“We owe Albert and his family the truth,” Omanyo concluded. “Justice delayed is justice denied, and we will not rest until the killers of Albert Ojwang are held to account.”

June 11, 2025