Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features for digital and print media.

Homa Bay governor Gladys Wanga has strongly condemned the growing wave of police brutality, impunity, and extrajudicial killings in the country.

This follows recent deaths and injuries linked to law enforcement officers.

In a statement dated Wednesday, June 18, Wanga cited the death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody at the Nairobi Central Station, as a tragic incident that has shaken the nation’s collective conscience.

Ojwang's death has caused public uproar, leading to a wave of protests as Kenyans demand accountability and reforms in the police sector.

In another incident, the county boss revealed that a family in Mbita is mourning the death of Calvins Omondi Onditi, a 36-year-old fisherman who allegedly took his life using his trousers while in custody at the Kipasi Police Post.

The governor revealed that a post-mortem at the Homa Bay County Referral Hospital is expected to determine the cause of death.

Amid her calls for justice, she disclosed that another man, a 34-year-old Gabriel Mwita Chacha was admitted to the Homa Bay County Referral Hospital with life-threatening injuries allegedly sustained from a police beating.

"Today, Gabriel Mwita Chacha has been brought to the County Referral Hospital with life-threatening injuries from a police beating in Ringiti Island," Wanga stated.

This comes only hours after a Kenyatta University student, Philip Okech, was shot in the neck during protests in Nairobi on Tuesday, June 17.

Additionally, a mask seller was shot in the head by uniformed police officers at close range. He was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital, where he was successfully operated on.

The governor urged the National Police Service to urgently address the escalating cases of brutality and uphold the constitutional rights of all citizens.

"This chilling act, captured on video, underscores the brazen police brutality. Enough is enough. The perpetrators of these extrajudicial killings must face the full force of the law. The immediate prosecution of all involved, including DIG Lagat must begin now," she stated.

Reaffirming her commitment to the ODM-UDA 10-point agenda, Wanga emphasised that extrajudicial killings are explicitly prohibited under the agreement.

“We are holding the broad-based government accountable to this pledge in our 10-Point Broad-Based Government Agreement. As the people of Homa Bay, we draw the red line on extrajudicial executions. Illegal and unconstitutional repression is not part of this agreement,” Wanga declared.

Meanwhile, Lagat is next in line for interrogation by IPOA over Ojwang's death, after his name repeatedly surfaced in the case, with the date yet to be set.

His questioning will follow that of OCS Samson Talaam, who distanced himself from the incident, claiming he was off duty at the time, and police constable James Mukhwana, who confessed to organising the assault.

Mukhwana alleged that he was acting on orders from both Lagat and Talaam, instructions that ultimately led to Ojwang’s death.

Source: TUKO.co.ke