Murkomen to face MPs over controversial IPOA report on Ojwang' death

CS Kipchumba Murkomen at the launch of flagship report and Action plan by the Eastern and Southern Africa Commission on Drugs during the fourth high-level consultation meeting in Nairobi in June 2025. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

The National Assembly has called out the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA), citing glaring gaps in the report presented in the House yesterday on the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang’.

The report was presented by the chairman of the Administration and Interior Committee, Gabriel Tongoyo. It sought to unravel the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death, but MPs termed the report insufficient.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula then directed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to appear in the House next Wednesday to respond to concerns raised by MPs.

“I direct that the Minister for Interior appears before this House on Wednesday afternoon so that he can be interrogated by the House on matters touching on the death of Ojwang’,” Wetang’ula ruled.

“It matters not where a Kenyan comes from. The pain of a Kenyan in Mandera, in Busia, in Homa Bay, in Kwale, is a pain to all of you (MPs),” he stated.

The ruling followed dissatisfaction expressed by at least three MPs, with Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara saying she had not received an appropriate response to the specific questions raised.

“Why was Ojwang’ moved from Homa Bay to Nairobi? Was this legal? This has not been clearly answered. I’m not satisfied with the specific online post that led to his arrest — up to this point we do not know the exact post (on X),” she said.

Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo said Ojwang’s death in police custody points to monumental impunity and disregard for the Constitution and the law, ‘‘to an extent that, seen alongside Tuesday’s protests in Nairobi, it demonstrates total anarchy and a risk of sliding into a banana republic if we are not already there’’.

He said the House should consider forming an ad hoc committee because Ojwang’s death reflects what happens daily, even though most cases do not come to light.

“I would suggest we consider constituting an ad hoc committee to look into what actually happened and also to investigate other similar cases, so that the police can be brought to order,” Amollo said.

He said the report contains many gaps and criticised IPOA for failing the House, noting that it is inappropriate for an institution mandated to investigate police conduct to attend a press conference where the police are justifying their own actions.

According to him, IPOA has failed and must be held to account. He added that there is no such thing as “stepping aside” in law, as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Eliud Lagat had done.

He said that under Section 17 of the National Police Service Act, the President can remove, retire or redeploy the DIG — none of which can be done by the DIG himself.

“IPOA cannot come and tell us that they have arrested and are prosecuting people for murder when the main suspect has yet to write a statement. How then do you determine who should be taken to court if Eliud Lagat has not even been interviewed to date?

“You cannot discipline yourself by saying you have stepped aside, what does that even mean in law? This whole issue is a charade. Before you are arrested, you are supposed to be informed of the reason. Ojwang’ was not arrested, he was abducted. So the use of the word ‘arrest’ is wrong. If it were an arrest, he would have been taken to the nearest police station. Why was he taken 600 kilometres away?” he wondered.

Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji also said IPOA’s statement is insufficient and suggested there could be a wider conspiracy surrounding the case. He urged the Committee on Administration to go beyond IPOA’s account.

“There is a need for the National Assembly to go beyond just obtaining a statement from IPOA and actually form a commission of inquiry to find out what exactly transpired,” he said.

He mentioned that two men from his constituency had been arrested over a traffic matter and released.

“When they returned to collect their vehicle, they were re-arrested, taken into custody, and are now being forced to write statements.

‘‘I urge this National Assembly to take the issue of police misuse and misconduct very seriously. We must ensure our nation’s credibility is beyond reproach,” he said.

Kiminini MP Didmus Barasa regretted that Lagat had stepped aside.

He said police officers found culpable in the deaths of Kenyans should face the law on a case-by-case basis.

“Condemning the entire police service over small mistakes committed in the line of duty is uncalled for. It only serves to instil fear in the police.

‘‘Everyone now seems to be a security expert, dictating how investigations or arrests should be conducted. If this situation continues as it is, we risk losing our country,” he said at a press conference.

He added that if IPOA continues to intimidate and instil fear in the National Police Service, he will propose constitutional amendments to disband it.

“I am shocked at how many leaders in our country are castigating police officers. I am also shocked at the manner in which IPOA is threatening them.

‘‘If this continues, it will become difficult for police officers to maintain law and order for fear of prosecution,” Barasa noted.