Senators demand answers on whereabouts of arrested activists after Ojwang’s death

Senators have demanded answers from the National Police Service (NPS) over the whereabouts of four suspects who were arrested alongside the late Albert Ojwang.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja had revealed that the group was detained over social media posts allegedly targeting Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat.

Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang said the suspects, Kevin, Dorcas, Peter and Douglas, must be accounted for, warning that Ojwang’s death in police custody has raised serious concerns about the safety of the remaining detainees.

Kevin Moinde, one of the four individuals detained alongside Ojwang, has since been released from custody, days after his arrest in connection with the controversial posts.

Moinde, who had initially been held at Kamukunji Police Station before being transferred to Capitol Hill Police Station, was released on June 9 by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) following public pressure and widespread criticism from civil society groups.

Inadequate evidence

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) confirmed that after reviewing the investigation file related to his case, there was no sufficient evidence to warrant his prosecution.

“The Director of Public Prosecutions carefully perused the inquiry file and found the evidence inadequate to warrant criminal charges against Moinde. The ODPP remains committed to executing its constitutional mandate in accordance with the law, public interest, and administration of justice,” ODPP said in a statement.

However, uncertainty continues to surround the fate of the other three, Dorcas, Peter, and Douglas, who were arrested in the same operation.

Speaking on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, Senator Kajwang raised the alarm over their unknown condition and location, warning that the House might be forced to invoke legal action if the police failed to produce them.

“Can the Inspector General assure this House? We might need to issue habeas corpus to confirm they are alive, because one of the co-accused is now lying at the Nairobi Funeral Home (formerly City Mortuary),” Kajwang said.

Outrage

Ojwang’s death has triggered a wave of outrage across the country. He was arrested on June 7 at his home in Homa Bay and later transferred to Central Police Station in Nairobi.

A postmortem conducted on June 10 revealed he died from head injuries, neck compression, and multiple soft tissue trauma injuries believed to have been sustained during an assault in custody.

“What is the status? Are they still alive? Kevin, Dorcas, Peter, Douglas… Albert is dead. What about the other four who were also arrested?” Kajwang pressed.

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• Albert Ojwang
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The senator, in a poignant moment, also reflected on the tragic symbolism in Ojwang’s name.

“For the record, the name Ojwang in Luo means abandoned, neglected and raised in hardship. Clearly, it has come true in the case of Albert we are talking about today,” he said.

Human rights advocates have continued to demand transparency, accountability and justice for both the late Ojwang and those still unaccounted for.