President William Ruto Statement on Death of Albert Ojwang in Police Custody

Like most Kenyans, and especially as a parent, I received the news of the death of Albert Ojwang while in police custody with utter shock and deep dismay.

I take this moment to extend my heartfelt condolences to Mr. Meshack Ojwang and his family for the cruel loss of their beloved son.

This tragic occurrence, at the hands of the police, is heartbreaking and unacceptable. I strongly condemn the actions and omissions, including any negligence or outright criminality, that may have contributed to his untimely death.

It must be borne in mind by every member of the National Police Service that whenever they take a person into custody, they assume a tremendous responsibility for that individual’s safety, security, and well-being, and must make every effort to discharge this duty conscientiously and without fail.

The National Police Service is the nation’s trusted custodian of the security of all persons and property, and they must always uphold this trust in order to secure and maintain legitimacy and credibility in the eyes of the people.

It has been my conviction that affirming the institutional autonomy of the police service is key to raising its standards of professionalism, effectiveness, accountability, and credibility. The Service must therefore rise to the challenge of firmly dealing with crime and lawlessness, while also eradicating misconduct and unprofessional behaviour within its own ranks.

I therefore call on the National Police Service to fully cooperate with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and to take every necessary measure to facilitate a swift, transparent, and credible investigation into the death of Ojwang.

As we mourn his passing, let us patiently but vigilantly follow the progress of the investigations without making premature judgments or drawing conclusions that could compromise the process and its outcome.

I fully expect that the truth about what happened to Ojwang will be established in due course, and that justice will be served.