Ruto, Murkomen remain mum as autopsy shows Ojwang' killed

The National Police Service is under fire following widespread outrage sparked by the inexplicable death of blogger Albert Ojwang in a police cell.

Strikingly, President William Ruto—who recently issued a qualified apology over abductions and extrajudicial killings—has remained silent. His deputy, Prof Kithure Kindiki, and the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government, Kipchumba Murkomen, have also been conspicuously quiet in the face of mounting public anger.

While national leaders such as ODM leader Raila Odinga, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, and several lobby groups have demanded thorough investigations and the prosecution of rogue officers implicated in the killing, Ruto and his top allies have remained tight-lipped about the incident, which has sent shockwaves across the country.

Even as politicians and human rights defenders joined forces to call for a swift investigation and possible interdiction of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat, life appeared to go on as normal for the President and his allies, seemingly unfazed by the tensions gripping the nation.

Ironically, at the very moment a government pathologist confirmed that police had lied about Ojwang having committed suicide inside Central Police Station, Nairobi, President Ruto was hosting over 600 leaders from the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA)—a denomination founded by Mau Mau freedom fighters—in what was seen as a strategic move to reclaim dwindling support, especially from churches and the Mt Kenya region that backed his 2022 presidential bid wholeheartedly.

While many Kenyans expected the Head of State to call for calm and assure the nation that no stone would be left unturned in bringing Ojwang’s killers to justice, Ruto instead used the opportunity to launch political attacks on his rivals, accusing them of dividing the country along tribal lines.

“We must all work together to unite our nation and reject any attempts to divide us along tribal lines. Let us stay focused on our shared development aspirations, which promise inclusive growth for all.”
Ruto also used the clergy meeting to drum up support for the government’s controversial Kazi Majuu programme, claiming that more than 400,000 youths have secured employment abroad thanks to the initiative.

On Monday, as news broke that Ojwang—a teacher—had been killed, the President was meeting a group of artists from the Mt Kenya region, reportedly to enlist them as mouthpieces for his administration in a region increasingly disillusioned with his leadership.

“Kenya will be transformed by leaders who are prepared to take bold and decisive steps to change the lives of the people. Through bold decisions, we have made great strides in stabilising the economy, increasing agricultural productivity, and enhancing social security for a better future.”

While the President sought to bolster his political capital, social media was awash with reactions to the post-mortem results. Activists called for a complete overhaul of the security sector. From Bangkok, Raila Odinga condemned what he described as a disturbing pattern of police brutality, citing Ojwang’s death.

In a statement released Tuesday, two days after the incident, Raila questioned the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s arrest and death, demanding immediate accountability.

“So far, nobody knows who gave the orders for Mr Ojwang to be arrested and ferried to Nairobi, yet that person should be answering to Kenyans,” he said, notably avoiding naming Lagat, who was cited as the complainant.

The ODM leader added that Ojwang’s death is just the latest in a growing list of defenceless Kenyans who have died at the hands of police, warning that these recurring injustices paint the picture of a failing state.

Critics argue that the political truce between ODM and UDA has been forgotten, with the ten-point agreement—aimed at ending extrajudicial killings and protecting the right to peaceful assembly—apparently cast aside.

Although Murkomen has remained silent, pressure is mounting for him to be held accountable for the blogger’s mysterious death.

Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has formally written to the CS, demanding an explanation regarding Ojwang’s arrest.

“What medical attention, if any, was provided to Ojwang prior to being found unconscious in the police cells during a routine check on the morning of Sunday, 8 June 2025? Could the CS provide the identity and official report of the medical officer at Mbagathi Hospital who declared Ojwang dead on arrival at approximately 1:39 AM on that day?”

Salasya added: “Why was the body of the deceased not preserved at Mbagathi Hospital Mortuary, and under whose authority was it transferred to City Mortuary?”
Gachagua insisted that for any credible investigation to take place, Lagat must be suspended, arguing that punishing junior officers amounts to scapegoating.

“Suspending junior officers at Central Police Station is hoodwinking Kenyans. For any meaningful investigation to be carried out, Mr Eliud Lagat must be suspended immediately,” he said.

At the same time, Gachagua accused the government of silencing dissent through assassinations and urged President Ruto to honour his commitment to safeguarding citizens.

“There has been no greater assault on our freedoms in Kenya than under this regime,” he stated.
“It is now clear that the so-called Broad-based Government is a Blood-Based Government, powered by the blood of Gen Z. It was formed after the blood of young people was spilled in the streets, and it continues to thrive on this. The beneficiaries remain silent as young people are brutally murdered,” Gachagua charged.