Ruto: Let's not draw conclusions on Ojwang's death

President William Ruto /PCS

President William Ruto has asked Kenyans to exercise restraint and patience and avoid drawing conclusions as investigative agencies work to unravel the true circumstances under which Homa Bay teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang died.

In a statement on Wednesday, the President expressed confidence that investigations will establish the truth about the young man's death, which has caused uproar and national concern.

"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," Ruto said.

The President's remarks come as the political class and civil society groups mount pressure on Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eliud Lagat, to resign or be sacked.

Albert was arrested on June 7 in Homa Bay and driven to Nairobi's Central police station after Lagat filed a complaint with the DCI that the blogger made a post he deemed defamatory to his reputation.

On Sunday, June 8, police said Ojwang died suddenly after he hit his head on the wall in his cell, a narrative that has since been dismissed as false by government pathologist Dr Bernard Midia, who said the injuries were consistent with assault and neck compression.

Dr Midia drew the conclusion that Ojwang was tortured and then strangled to death - a revelation that led many to conclude that his being taken to Mbagathi hospital was a mere formality.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) has taken up investigations into the matter, and has equally ruled out the suicide narrative and said CCTV cameras at the OCS's office were tampered with.

On Tuesday, senators called on Lagat to resign, not as a demonstration of guilt, but a show of commitment to an impartial investigation.

Their calls were backed by the Law Society of Kenya and a section of civil society members, who held protests outside the Nairobi Funeral Home (City Mortuary), demanding the immediate resignation of the Deputy IG.

On Wednesday, senators repeated the calls when Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Director General of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin honoured summons to appear before the House to answer questions related to Ojwang's death.

Murkomen promised that all those involved in the crime would be held accountable, with no cover-up or external interference in the investigation.

“Our constitution is very robust, and I have full confidence that the National Police Service, working in close collaboration with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), will resolve this matter.”

Almost concurrently, Ruto voiced similar sentiments in his statement, the first since the death of Ojwang became public, saying he fully expects that the truth about what happened to Ojwang will be established in due course, and that justice will be served.

The President said the NPS must eradicate misconduct and unprofessional behaviour within its own ranks.

"I therefore call on the NPS to fully cooperate with the Ipoa and to take every necessary measure to facilitate a swift, transparent, and credible investigation into the death of Ojwang."