Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has issued a fiery statement condemning the brutal killing of Albert Ojwang, a young man who died in police custody, describing the incident as part of a growing pattern of state-sponsored violence targeting Kenya’s youth.
Gachagua directly blamed the Ruto administration, accusing security agencies under its watch of engaging in extrajudicial killings and human rights violations, particularly against members of Generation Z, the vocal and socially active segment of the population increasingly seen as a thorn in the side of the government.
“Albert Ojwang’s brutal murder in the hands of police has revived the painful wounds of the tens of Gen Zs who continue to be killed by security agencies of the Ruto administration,” Gachagua said. “This cowardly act must not be swept under the carpet. The killers must be brought to book.”
At the center of Gachagua’s accusation is Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat, who he claims ordered the arrest of Ojwang over a social media comment. Gachagua alleges that Mr. Lagat acted as the complainant in the case and must be held personally responsible for what he calls “a state-sanctioned execution.”
“This is the same Eliud Lagat who is in charge of police cells and who has turned Kamukunji and Central Police stations into modern-day torture chambers,” Gachagua said. “Suspending junior officers is a smokescreen. The real mastermind—Mr. Lagat—must be suspended immediately if any genuine investigations are to happen.”
Ojwang was reportedly arrested in Homa Bay and transported over 400km to Central Police Station in Nairobi, raising public suspicion and prompting outrage from human rights activists, opposition leaders, and members of the public demanding to know why due process in his home jurisdiction was bypassed.
Gachagua, who once served as Kenya’s second-in-command, alleged that Central Police and Kamukunji stations have been operating under Lagat’s personal control—without the knowledge of the Inspector General of Police, a claim yet to be officially addressed by the National Police Service.
“That is why Albert had to be moved far from home—to one of the state’s new torture hubs. Kenyans are asking: what did Albert do to deserve death? What crime did our youth commit?” Gachagua asked.
In an emotionally charged moment, the former DP quoted Genesis 4:10 from the Bible: “Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground,” drawing parallels between the biblical story of Cain and Abel and what he called the “blood-based governance” of President William Ruto’s administration.
“This is no longer a broad-based government; it is a blood-based government. The engine of this regime is powered by the blood of Gen Zs. It was formed after their blood was spilled on the streets and it continues to survive on that sacrifice,” Gachagua declared.
He further criticized what he described as the silence of beneficiaries of the current regime, accusing them of turning a blind eye while young Kenyans are allegedly “hunted and slaughtered.”
In a direct message to President Ruto, Gachagua said:
“Mr. President, leave our children alone. You swore by the Holy Bible to protect life and property. How many gallons of blood do you need to be satisfied?”
The death of Albert Ojwang has triggered national outrage and renewed calls for urgent police reforms and independent investigations. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has been petitioned to take charge of the case, while civil society groups plan protests in major towns.
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