The Justice and Equity Council, UK chapter, wishes to express its grave concerns to the Chairman and Secretary of the Kenya Police Service Commission regarding the alarming trend of forced disappearances, abductions, and the recent murder of blogger Albert Ojwang within a police facility. This incident adds to a troubling list of cases involving Kenyans, including Gideon Kibet, Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, and Benard Kavuli, who have similarly vanished or been killed in recent months.
We call for the immediate suspension and investigation of the senior leadership within the police service, as it is their duty, under the 2010 Constitution, to ensure the safety and protection of all citizens. The ongoing silence from your commission is concerning, especially given the rising number of disappearances and the lack of decisive action to address these violations. It is imperative that the Inspector General of Police be held accountable and provide a comprehensive report on the status of investigations into these serious matters.
The Inspector General of Police has egregiously misrepresented the circumstances surrounding Albert Ojwang’s death, claiming it was a suicide while evidence suggests otherwise, with indications of tampering.
This narrative attempts to criminalize the exposure of misconduct by public officials, diverting public resources to defend the police instead of allowing aggrieved parties to pursue civil action for defamation, as is customary. Under your leadership as chairman and secretary of the Kenya Police Service Commission, Kenya appears to have devolved into a police state where the lives of citizens are undervalued, and the reputation of the police takes precedence over public safety.
We firmly reject this trend and assert that it cannot be permitted to take hold in our society. With diminishing trust in the cabinet secretary and the president to uphold the 2010 Constitution, we now look to you, as the commission responsible for the hiring and firing of police personnel, to take decisive action. The integrity of your names will be questioned if the lives of Kenyans, who fund your positions, are disregarded.
Therefore, it is imperative that the Inspector General’s statements be thoroughly examined, and his removal should be prioritized to ensure that Kenya remains a nation governed by law and served by accountable police officers. In a properly functioning democracy, the IG, his deputy, and the DCI would have resigned or been dismissed, with investigations leading to appropriate charges against those responsible. Article 1 of the 2010 Constitution grants sovereign power to the people of Kenya, and the alarming rise in forced disappearances and abductions must be addressed with urgency.
