Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Kakamega have urged the government to end police brutality that has cut short the dreams of a promising young Kenyan Albert Ojwang.
They urged the government to take measures that will restore the confidence of Kenyans in the police service as they go about their daily activities even as they recount the unfortunate circumstances under which Ojwang lost his life.
They said they are saddened that some police officers have been violating the law on arrest and presentation of suspects to be charged in a court of law whereby they instead torture them.
Speaking to the media in Kakamega town, the CSOs led by the President of Young Patriots for Unity and Progress (YPUP) Daniel Adika said that the gruesome murder of Ojwang’ is an outright gross violation of human rights.
“The murder of Ojwang’ is an act that goes against human rights and the universal human rights that dictate that life is sacred and must be protected and guarded by every means possible. Albert lost his life at the hands of people who are supposed to protect him, he lost his life in a police cell, a place that every one of us believe to be very safe and secure,” he noted.
He said the unfortunate death of Ojwang should be the last one in the confines of the police asking for immediate action against those who were involved and for justice to be served to the family.
“We can no longer take this as an ordinary matter, we can no longer keep talking about police brutality, we can no longer keep talking about extra judicial killings,” he added.
The Executive Director of the Western Community Development and Empowerment Centre, Ibrahim Karim Makokha called for action against the officers who were involved in the murder of Ojwang.
Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula has called for immediate arraignment in court of those involved in the arrest of Albert Ojwang who later died due to injuries sustained while in police custody.
“Those officers who were suspended and senior police officers in the police who were involved in this must be arraigned in court; that is the only solution; forget about politics around this matter, this is a crime scene; the suspects are there, the evidence is there, let the suspect be arraigned in court,” he added.
By Moses Wekesa and James Ingusu
