Albert Ojwang's family denies filing petition over his death

Meshack Ojwang, the father of the late Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody at Central police station, in Nairobi. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

The family of slain teacher Albert Ojwang's family has refuted a report that it is a party to a petition seeking the removal of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Eliud Lagat from office.

The spokesperson of the family, Kenneth Ouma, said they had not collaborated with any politician to file a petition in any court.

Addressing journalists when they were visited by Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara, Ouma said they had learnt through media reports that the family had collaborated with a group of politicians to file the petition.

According to Ouma, the family has not filed any case in court over Albert's death.

"We have learnt through the media that the family the family has filed a joint petition with a group of politicians. We are not a party to that petition. We are not aware of the petition at all," Ouma said.

He said the family lawyer had written to the magistrate to inform the court that Albert's father Meshack Ojwang is not a petitioner in the case as indicated.

Mr Ojwang said they will not bury Albert until they know the real people who killed him.

He appealed to the public to support his family financially to enable them give Albert a decent burial.

"I have received support from various leaders but we still have a big deficit," Ojwang said.

Wanga and Obara piled pressure on the government to ensure that the people who killed Albert are apprehended.

Wanga said nobody should be spared in the murder incident, regardless of their position in society.

"There should not be any sacred cows in this cause for looking for Albert's justice. We want to see the people facing the law into their hands," Wanga said.

Dr Obara said they wanted to know why Albert was taken to a secluded cell at Central Police Station.

"The death of Albert is unacceptable and we want to know exactly what happened. This is not the right way to treat suspects in our police cells," Obara said.

She said any officer who was involved in Albert's death should be relieved from their duties.

"They should be relieved from their duties. What they did was wrong," Dr Obara said.