No cover-up! State won't shield anyone in Ojwang's death probe, says Murkomen

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen before the Senate to respond to questions on the tragic death of Albert Ojwang' in police custody, on June 11, 2025. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has denied claims of attempts to cover up the murder of blogger and teacher, Albert Ojwang' while in police custody.

Speaking for the first time since his [Ojwang's] demise, Murkomen moved to quiet widespread public outrage, assuring that investigations are underway and justice will be served.

"This accountability is not negotiable; neither is it debatable. We expect every police officer who was involved to be brought to justice expeditiously," said Murkomen, while appearing before the Senate on Wednesday, June 11.

"It is regrettable that such an act happened in the hands of police officers. Those who were involved in this action will be punished severely to serve as an example," he said.

Further, the CS insisted that investigating agencies were operating independently, adding that neither the president nor himself have given their juniors any orders regarding the ongoing investigation.

"Even the President is barred from giving directions to the Inspector General of Police in regard to any investigations...We will do everything within the ministry to ensure that there is no interference, shielding of any individual, and cover up from the Executive."

Murkomen was appearing before a special sitting of the Senate called to address concerns around the safety and wellbeing of arrested persons while in police custody.

Yesterday, senators resolved during the afternoon sitting, to summon senior security officials to explain the failure to address cases of police brutality.

Migori Senator Eddy Oketch, who moved the motion for the sitting, demanded that CS Murkomen shed light into inconsistencies in the accounts detailing how Ojwang died.

Oketch also wondered why no suspect had been apprehended nearly five days after the incident, a stark contrast to speedy investigations and arrests following the fatal shooting of Kasipul MP Charles Were.

A postmortem on the body, conducted on Tuesday revealed that the deceased died of serious head injuries from blunt object trauma, neck compression, and soft tissues all over his body, pointing to an assault, contradicting earlier police claims that Ojwang hit his head on the wall of his cell.