Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has strongly condemned the brutal killing of Albert Ojwang, a young Kenyan allegedly murdered while in police custody.
The incident has sparked outrage across the country, particularly among Kenya’s Gen Z population, who accuse the government of sustained and deadly suppression.
In a strongly worded statement, Gachagua termed Ojwang’s killing a “cowardly act” and demanded urgent, independent investigations. He said those responsible must be brought to justice without delay.
“In the strongest terms possible, I condemn this cowardly act by the killers and call for speedy investigations. The culprits must be brought to book,” said Gachagua.
Ojwang was reportedly arrested following a social media post deemed critical of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Eliud Lagat. According to Gachagua, Lagat himself was the complainant in the case and ordered the arrest.
Gachagua directly accused Lagat of bearing responsibility for Ojwang’s death, adding that Lagat has a history of misusing his authority, including allegedly ordering the withdrawal of police from a church event in Mwiki on April 6, 2025, which Gachagua claims led to an attack on him and congregants.
“Suspending junior officers at Central Police Station is hoodwinking Kenyans. For any meaningful investigation to happen, Mr. Eliud Lagat must be suspended immediately,” Gachagua asserted.
He also alleged that DIG Lagat was operating Kamukunji and Central Police Stations without the knowledge of the Inspector General, turning the stations into “torture chambers,” and questioned why Ojwang was moved from Homa Bay to Central Police Station in Nairobi.
Addressing the youth and the broader public, Gachagua expressed solidarity with Ojwang’s family and Kenya’s young generation.
“To the family of Albert, the people of Homa Bay, and especially the Gen Zs, I stand with you in seeking justice. What have young people done to deserve these macabre killings?” he questioned.
He further criticized the Kenya Kwanza administration, referring to it as a “blood-based government” that rose and survives on the bloodshed of innocent youth.
“There has been no worse mutilation of our freedoms in Kenya than under this regime. It is now clear that the so-called Broad-Based Government is actually a Blood-Based Government,” he stated.
In a final appeal, Gachagua directly addressed President William Ruto, demanding protection for Kenyan youth and an end to police brutality.
“Mr. President, leave our children alone. Kenya is not a mafia state,” Gachagua said.
The killing of Ojwang has reignited national debate on police brutality, human rights, and the safety of online expression in Kenya.
Civil society organizations and human rights groups are calling for an independent inquiry and the immediate suspension of implicated officers.
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