Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has been summoned to appear before the National Assembly next week to explain the death of Albert Ojwang’, a blogger and schoolteacher who died in police custody earlier this month.
Speaker Moses Wetang’ula made the ruling on Wednesday following rising anger among MPs over what they described as vague and unconvincing explanations from the country’s police watchdog.
Ojwang’, who had been arrested in Homa Bay on 7 June, was later found dead while in police custody an incident that has sparked public protests and renewed calls for accountability within the police force.
“From what I’ve heard, and from what the chair of the committee read to us… I direct that the Interior CS appear before this House on Wednesday afternoon,” Wetang’ula said. “He must be interrogated by members on matters touching on the death of Ojwang’.”
Murkomen is expected to respond to tough questions from MPs when he appears before the House on 25 June.
The order comes just a week after Murkomen appeared before the Senate over the same matter.
‘Still no clear answers’
The National Assembly’s move follows debate on a report presented by the House’s National Security and Internal Administration Committee, chaired by MP Gabriel Tongoyo.
The report, sparked by concerns raised by Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara, contained information from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), Inspector General Douglas Kanja, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) led by Mohamed Amin.
But many MPs, including Obara herself, said they were far from satisfied.
“Why was Albert transferred from Homa Bay to Nairobi? Was this legal? This has not been clearly answered,” Obara told the House.
“What we saw yesterday, right after the case of Mr Ojwang’, shows that the police have not taken this seriously. The public outcry has fallen on deaf ears.”
Doubts over IPOA independence
The handling of the case by IPOA drew sharp criticism from several lawmakers. Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji called the watchdog’s report “incomplete,” and suggested a full commission of inquiry be set up.
“There is a need for the National Assembly to go beyond merely receiving IPOA’s statement,” he said. “We must establish a commission that is truly independent and includes all parties mentioned.”
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo accused IPOA of compromising its role by working too closely with the very officers it was supposed to investigate.
“This case shows monumental impunity and disregard for the Constitution,” Amollo said.
“If what happened yesterday is anything to go by, we may already be sliding into a banana republic.”
A test for police reform
The death of Ojwang’, though not the first of its kind, has intensified public concern over police conduct and the state’s commitment to reform. The case has become a lightning rod for broader frustrations around impunity, particularly within the National Police Service.
Speaker Wetang’ula acknowledged the need for caution, given the ongoing investigation, but stressed Parliament’s duty to uphold transparency and protect public interest.
“We must respect the sub judice rule,” he said, “but we also have a duty to speak boldly on matters that affect the public and the constitutional conduct of our police.”
As the nation awaits Murkomen’s appearance next week, the pressure is on government institutions to restore public confidence and ensure that Ojwang’s death does not become just another forgotten case.
