Why CS Murkomen declined to answer questions on Albert Ojwang’s death at the Senate
The response angered senators, forcing the session to be halted for several minutes on Wednesday, June 11, as legislators protested what they described as evasion and deflection.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen declined to answer questions on the controversial death of Albert Ojwang in police custody, triggering an uproar in the Senate.
Murkomen told the House that it was not his duty to explain the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death and directed the matter to the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja.
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The response angered senators, forcing the session to be halted for several minutes on Wednesday, June 11, as legislators protested what they described as evasion and deflection.
“The Constitution does not give me the power to decide who is culpable. However, I am confident that we will do everything possible to ensure there is no cover-up or shielding of anyone,” Murkomen said.
He had earlier opened his statement by expressing regret over the incident, calling it a blow to the nation’s conscience and promising that the government would act.
“One life lost is a life too many. As the CS in charge and as a father, it is regrettable that such an act happened in our country, particularly at the hands of police officers,” he said.
“I will fully cooperate and put every effort into ensuring justice is served to this family. Anyone involved in this act will be punished severely, so they serve as an example. This should not happen under our new Constitution.”
But when pressed on who he believed was responsible for Ojwang’s death, Murkomen said oversight agencies, not the ministry, had the mandate to determine that.
He pointed to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), saying it was legally tasked with investigating deaths in police custody. He added that his ministry only plays a policy and oversight role.
“We now have a mechanism for holding officers accountable. Thanks to this framework, several officers who have committed such heinous acts have been prosecuted,” Murkomen said.
“We will spare no effort, and where the ministry’s assistance is needed, we will provide it to ensure that justice is served to Ojwang’s family, his father, his wife, and their only child.”
The statement, however, did not sit well with some senators who felt Murkomen had a responsibility to explain what actions the government had taken following the contradictory accounts surrounding Ojwang’s death.
Earlier in the day, the Senate had suspended its official sitting and converted into an informal session to allow Murkomen, the IG, and the Director of Criminal Investigations, Mohamed Amin, to respond to the senator’s concerns.
Migori Senator Eddy Oketch, who had raised the issue, said Ojwang had sustained fatal injuries that could not be ignored. He accused the government of failing to act with urgency and clarity.
“In this sitting, we want to be very clear, who, in the view of the CS and IG, are the suspects in this murder?” Oketch asked.
“The IG informed the nation that Ojwang’ hit his head on a wall. The country needs to know where he got that information. And now that the autopsy has contradicted that claim, what has the CS done?”
Oketch also demanded a full report on the steps taken by IPOA and the police service, asking whether any of the officers involved had been held accountable.
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