Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior has slammed the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) for delaying in taking action against those responsible for the murder of Albert Ojwang.
In a statement on Tuesday, June 17, Mutula said that all those involved in Ojwang’s murder should be in custody by the time he is laid to rest.
The Makueni Governor also noted that witnesses in the case should be placed under witness protection.
“IPOA has taken too long to bring to book the real culprits of the murder of Albert Ojwang. By the time he is resting in peace, his murderers and accomplices should be in solitary confinement.
"The trial must be swift. The witnesses should now be on witness protection,” said Governor Mutula.
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Ojwang was arrested on Saturday, June 7, at his rural home in Homa Bay and transported to Nairobi, where he was booked into the Central Police Station.
He was murdered moments after booking, with the autopsy later indicating that he had his neck compressed and beaten.
IPOA has so far arrested Central Police OCS Samson Talaam and Constable James Mukhwana, the sentry who was on duty when Ojwang was brought in.
Mukhwana on Monday claimed that instructions to "discipline" Ojwang’ originated from Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat and were relayed through Talaam.
In a statement recorded by IPOA, Mukhwana said he was summoned to Talaam’s office on Saturday, June 7, during his shift and given the instructions.
"There is a directive from DIG Lagat. Do you know him? There are officers from the DCI headquarters bringing a suspect here at 8:00 p.m. Tell the inmates to discipline him a bit,” Talaam allegedly instructed Mukhwana.
Mukhwana said he questioned the command and asked what would happen if it went wrong, but the OCS allegedly threatened him if he failed to comply.
Meanwhile, DIG Lagat has stepped aside from his position pending the outcome of investigations into the death of Ojwang.
"In the good and conscious thought of my role and responsibilities as the Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police Service, and in view of the ongoing investigations on the unfortunate incident of the death of Mr. Albert Ojwang, I have today opted to step aside from the office of the Deputy Inspector General Kenya Police Service pending completion of investigations,” he said on Monday.
