Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has expressed her disappointment with the government’s failure to address the rising cases of police brutality across the country.
In a press statement dated Wednesday, June 18, Wanga criticised President William Ruto’s administration, stating that the 10-point agenda signed between the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) explicitly prohibits extrajudicial killings.
According to her, while ODM fully supports the broad-based government, the deal signed early this year in the presence of Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga also called for an end to police brutality.
In the now-deleted post, the ODM Chairperson noted that the party would continue holding Ruto's administration accountable for violations of human rights as per the agreement.
"The ODM-UDA agreement explicitly prohibits extrajudicial killings. Our support for the broad-based government does not extend to extrajudicial killing and police brutality," Wanga stated.
"We are holding the broad-based government to this commitment, drawing the line on extrajudicial executions. Illegal and unconstitutional repression is not part of the agreement," she added.
To address the matter, Wanga urged the government to ensure that all perpetrators of the ongoing extrajudicial killings are brought to book. She also demanded greater accountability within the National Police Service.
The governor went on to name four young Kenyans who were seriously injured, and in some cases killed, at the hands of rogue police officers over the past month.
Among those named as victims of police brutality by Wanga are Albert Ojwang, who was allegedly killed in police custody and Calvin Omondi, who reportedly hanged himself inside a police post in Mbita.
Other casualties include Gabriel Mwita, who, according to the governor, was rushed to the Homa Bay County Referral Hospital with serious injuries after a police beating.
“Yesterday in Nairobi, Philip Oketch was shot during protests against these very killings. We watched a video of an unarmed young man selling masks, shot at point-blank range by a masked police officer,” Wanga remarked.
She added, “Enough is enough. The perpetrators of these extrajudicial killings must face the full force of the law. The Kenya Police Service must carry its cross.”
Wanga’s clarion call comes in the wake of Tuesday’s protests, which left over 22 Kenyans injured in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilifi, and Kwale counties, according to statistics released by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
