'Enough is enough': Wanga demands prosecution of officers in police brutality cases

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has condemned the recent wave of police brutality in the country, calling for the immediate prosecution of officers involved in extrajudicial killings and excessive use of force.

In a statement issued Wednesday, June 18, Wanga decried the rising cases of police misconduct and impunity, demanding accountability from authorities.

“Enough is enough. The perpetrators of these extrajudicial killings must face the full force of the law. The Kenya Police Service must carry its cross. We condemn these atrocities and demand accountability,” she said. 

The county boss also called for the prosecution of all officers involved in the death of Albert Ojwang, a blogger and teacher who died in police custody, including those in command positions.

She referenced a string of brutality cases reported in Homa Bay and across the country, including a recent incident in Mbita, where a fisherman allegedly "hanged himself" with a pair of trousers at Kipasi Police Post. 

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The family is still awaiting postmortem results from Homa Bay County Referral Hospital.

Wanga also condemned the fatal  shooting of a street vendor during Tuesday’s demonstrations in Nairobi, where protesters were demanding justice for Ojwang’s death.

In another case, she cited the beating of Gabriel Mwita Chacha, 34, who was admitted to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after an alleged police assault on Ringiti Island.

The governor criticised what she described as growing repression in the wake of the recently formed broad-based government.

“The  ODM-UDA agreement explicitly prohibits extrajudicial killings. We are holding the broad-based government to this commitment. We draw the line on extrajudicial executions. Illegal and unconstitutional repression is not part of the agreement,” she continued. 

Her remarks come on the back of increased cases of police brutality in the country, with the death of Ojwang in custody and the shooting of an unarmed civilian yesterday grabbing global attention.