William Ruto Breaks Silence on Albert Ojwang's Death: "Cruel Loss"
- President William Ruto joins Kenyans in demanding answers regarding the death of blogger Albert Ojwang
- Ruto, while condoling with the family of the slain blogger, found the police at fault for flouting the operating procedures while handling a suspect in custody
- The president directed the relevant authorities to expedite the probe into the death, uncover the truth and bring the perpetrators before justice
Nairobi - President William Ruto has commented on the death of blogger Albert Ojwang, which happened in police custody.
Source: Facebook
The president, in an official statement, said he was pained by the circumstances in which the 31-year-old died.
Noting that he was sharing in the grief from the perspective of a parent, Ruto addressed his message of condolence to Ojwang's father, Meshack Opiyo, condemning the perpetrators behind the death.
"Like most Kenyans, and especially as a parent, I received the news of the death of Albert Ojwang while in police custody with utter shock and deep dismay. I take this moment to extend my heartfelt condolences to Mr. Meshack Ojwang and his family for the cruel loss of their beloved son. This tragic occurrence, at the hands of the police, is heartbreaking and unacceptable. I strongly condemn the actions and omissions, including any negligence or outright criminality that may have contributed to his untimely death," Ruito said.
The president was concerned that the police might have flouted the standard operating procedures while handling the deceased.
He noted that he allowed the police to have independence from the national executive to enhance professionalism and boost public confidence; hence, such a misdeed was unfortunate.
Ruto said the police ought to have taken responsibility for Ojwang's safety and well-being after his arrest, suggesting the mysterious circumstances in which he died were inadmissible.
The president directed the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to undertake swift and efficient investigations into Ojwang's death.
"It has been my conviction that affirming the institutional autonomy of the police service is key to raising its standards of professionalism, effectiveness, accountability, and credibility. The Service must therefore rise to the challenge of firmly dealing with crime and lawlessness while also eradicating misconduct and unprofessional behaviour within its own ranks. I therefore call on the National Police Service to fully cooperate with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and to take every necessary measure to facilitate a swift, transparent, and credible investigation into the death of Ojwang," Ruto said.
The president called on Kenyans to be calm even as they follow up on the ongoing probe.
"As we mourn his passing, let us patiently but vigilantly follow the progress of the investigations without making premature judgments or drawing conclusions that could compromise the process and its outcome. I fully expect that the truth about what happened to Ojwang will be established in due course, and that justice will be served," Ruto said.
Ruto's pronouncements came after Ojwang's father pleaded with him to intervene and help push for justice.
Speaking after the autopsy on his child's body, Meshack Opiyo said the officers who arrested him assessed his rural home and concluded that he was too poor to demand justice should anything happen to his son.
Meshack pleaded with the president, saying he was a taxpayer who was entitled to state protection and justice in the event of injustice.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
