Wetang'ula summons CS Murkomen over Ojwang's murder

Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetang’ula, has directed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to appear before the House on Wednesday, June 25.

The CS is expected to respond to concerns raised by Members of Parliament regarding the controversial murder of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang, just a week after he appeared before the Senate plenary.

Ojwang was arrested by police and later died in custody on June 7, triggering a wave of protests across the country.

The Speaker’s directive followed expressions of dissatisfaction by MPs on June 18 with the report tabled by the National Assembly’s National Security and Internal Administration Committee Chairperson, Gabriel Tongoyo.

 The report was presented in response to a statement raised by Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara.

Tongoyo’s report included findings from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, and the Director of Criminal Investigations, Mohamed Amin.

Wetang’ula noted that while the House must remain mindful of the sub judice rule due to ongoing investigations, it is also obligated to address matters of public interest and the constitutional conduct of the National Police Service (NPS).

From what I have heard, and from what the chair of the committee read to us… I direct that the Interior CS appear before this House on Wednesday afternoon, so that he can be interrogated by members on matters touching on the death of Ojwang’,” ruled the Speaker.

MP Obara expressed frustration with IPOA’s handling of the case and dissatisfaction with the responses provided in the report, calling for deeper scrutiny into what she termed a growing culture of police impunity.

“Mr Speaker, on the specific questions that were asked, I’m yet to be satisfied. Why was Albert transferred from Homa Bay to Nairobi? Was this legal? This has not been clearly answered,” said Obara.

“What we saw yesterday, immediately after Mr. Ojwang’s case, shows that the gravity of the situation has not sunk in. The public outcry seems to have fallen on deaf ears within the police force. If it had been taken seriously, what we witnessed yesterday would not have happened.”

Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji criticised the IPOA statement as inadequate, suggesting the agency’s account concealed critical details. He urged the Tongoyo-led committee to go beyond IPOA’s findings and consider forming a commission of inquiry.

“There is a need for the National Assembly to go beyond merely receiving IPOA’s statement and actually establish a commission of inquiry to find out exactly what transpired—one that is independent and includes all parties mentioned,” said Mukunji.

Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo delivered a scathing critique of IPOA, accusing the oversight body of compromising its independence by working too closely with the police during investigations.

He pushed for the formation of an ad hoc committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death.

“The issue of Ojwang’ demonstrates monumental impunity and disregard for the Constitution and the law. When seen together with what happened yesterday, it signals total anarchy and the danger of us sliding into a banana republic—if we are not already there,” Amollo warned.