By Ernest Bandi
A political storm is brewing over the mysterious death of Albert Omondi Ojwang, a teacher who reportedly died in police custody, with Senators now demanding the resignation and arrest of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat.
Ojwang, a C.R.E. teacher from Homa Bay County, was allegedly arrested at his home on Saturday afternoon and transferred to Nairobi Central Police Station, where he later died under suspicious circumstances. The case has sparked nationwide outrage and raised serious concerns about police brutality and extra-judicial killings in Kenya.
During a heated Senate session on Tuesday, several lawmakers condemned the incident and demanded swift action, calling for accountability at the highest levels of government.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale was among the most vocal, insisting that the case must not be treated lightly.
“I am asking that this matter be escalated to the highest level, whereby we must instill fear in the government for the state to respect human life. It is not enough to ask the Deputy Inspector General to resign,” said Khalwale.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei echoed Khalwale’s sentiments and proposed the formation of a judicial inquiry to investigate allegations of extra-judicial executions linked to the police.
“It can't be that, as a Senate, we allow insecurity to thrive in the country. I want to appeal to the President—heads must roll—including the Interior Cabinet Secretary, the Inspector General of Police, his subordinates, the OCS in Homa Bay, and even Safaricom, which allegedly provided location data that led to Ojwang's arrest,” said Cherargei.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka focused on Ojwang’s social media activity, suggesting that the teacher’s online posts—where he reportedly exposed corruption within the police force—may have played a role in his killing.
“What was Ojwang discussing that made this man kill him? It’s corruption. He spoke about the police service consuming close to KSh 56 billion annually. This is the story. This country must be fixed, and we are the ones to fix it,” Onyonka stated.
Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang also joined the motion, calling for the immediate resignation of Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Inspector General Douglas Kanja, and DIG Eliud Lagat.
“Extra-judicial killings are on the rise, and it is unacceptable. Those in charge must take responsibility. The leadership of the security apparatus has failed Kenyans,” said Kajwang.
Meanwhile, the police leadership remains silent on the matter, with no official response from DIG Lagat or the Inspector General’s office as of the time of publishing. Calls for the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to open an investigation have intensified.
The Ojwang family, backed by local residents and human rights groups, continues to demand justice for the slain teacher, describing him as a principled man who paid the ultimate price for speaking truth to power.
As pressure mounts on the state to take action, the nation watches closely—awaiting justice in what is shaping up to be a landmark case in Kenya’s fight against police impunity.
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