Governor Wanga: ODM will not back state-sanctioned violence

In response to a series of troubling police cases, Governor Wanga declared, "Enough is enough," as she mourned the death of Voi-based teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang.

Ojwang reportedly died as a result of injuries sustained after being arrested at his home in Homa Bay by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers in response to an allegedly defamatory social media post targeting Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat, who has since resigned.

Ojwang's death sparked nationwide protests, with demonstrators demanding justice for his family and accountability in the police force. The public outrage grew after another contentious incident, in which a police officer shot a face mask vendor.

Governor Wanga highlighted several other disturbing incidents involving residents of Homa Bay County. Among them was Philip Oketch, who was allegedly shot during the protests, and Gabriel Mwita Chacha, who is reported to have been severely beaten by police on Ringiti Island.

In her statement, Wanga also expressed solidarity with the family of the late Omondi Onditi, a fisherman who allegedly died by suicide while in custody at Kipasi Police Post in Mbita.

Onditi had reportedly been arrested under controversial circumstances, and Wanga emphasized the importance of transparency, stating, “The post-mortem at the Homa Bay County Referral Hospital will reveal the truth.”

Wanga demanded comprehensive accountability and urged the Kenya Police Service to accept responsibility for the rising cases of police brutality and unexplained deaths in custody.

“We condemn these atrocities and demand accountability, and the immediate prosecution of all officers involved, including those bearing command responsibility,” she asserted.

Governor Wanga, the national chairperson of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), also addressed the ongoing bipartisan cooperation between ODM and the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), emphasizing that extrajudicial killings and state violence are incompatible with the partnership's principles.