President William Ruto has strongly condemned the death of Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody. He also sent his deepest condolences to Ojwang’s family during this difficult time.
In a heartfelt press statement, the President shared how deeply saddened and shocked he was upon hearing the news. He said the death was not only painful but also unacceptable.
“Like many Kenyans, and especially as a parent myself, I was deeply shocked and saddened to learn about the tragic death of Albert Ojwang while he was being held in police custody,” President Ruto said.
“I want to take this moment to offer my sincere and heartfelt condolences to Mr. Meshack Ojwang and his entire family. The loss of a beloved son in such a cruel and heartbreaking way is something no family should have to endure.”
Furthermore, President Ruto described the incident as both unfortunate and deeply troubling. He did not hold back in criticizing the actions of those involved.
“This terrible incident, caused while Albert was in the care of police officers, is truly heartbreaking. It is completely unacceptable,” he said.
“I strongly condemn all the actions, failures, or possible criminal behavior that may have led to his untimely and painful death.”
Remember your duty
In addition, President Ruto reminded members of the National Police Service (NPS) of their important duty.
He stressed that whenever the police take someone into custody, they take full responsibility for that person’s safety, health, and overall well-being.
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He emphasized, “Once a person is in police custody, the responsibility for their protection lies entirely with the police. They must treat this duty with the seriousness it deserves and must carry it out without failing.”
Moreover, the President said that the National Police Service must always protect the rights and lives of all people in Kenya.
He pointed out that the police are trusted by the public to protect both lives and property, and they must work hard to maintain that trust.
“The NPS must always live up to the expectations of the public. They must fight crime and lawlessness with strength and fairness,” he said. “
At the same time, they must also work hard to remove any form of misconduct or unprofessional behavior from within their own ranks.”
President Ruto also called on the police to fully cooperate with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). He urged them to help ensure that the ongoing investigation into Ojwang’s death is fast, fair, open, and honest.
Truth and accaountability
He asked the public to stay calm, remain patient, and not rush to conclusions while the investigation is still ongoing. According to him, it is important to wait for the full truth to come out.
“I believe that the truth about what really happened to Albert Ojwang will soon be revealed,” he said. “And I am confident that justice will be served.”
Albert Ojwang died on Sunday, June 8, while in police custody at the Central Police Station in Nairobi. A postmortem done on Tuesday showed that Ojwang had been assaulted before he died.
