Cherargei calls for Murkomen’s demotion amid outcry over Ojwang’s death
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has called for Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to be demoted to the Ministry of Sports following the controversial death of 31-year-old X influencer Albert Ojwang in police custody.
Speaking during a Senate plenary on Wednesday, June 11, Cherargei criticised Murkomen’s leadership, accusing him of failing to address police brutality and neglecting his responsibilities in the Interior docket.
“The Murkomen we have today is different. Abraham Lincoln said that if you want to test the character of a man, give him power and money. The CS must tell us, he said he has been in office for barely six months. Does he want 10,000 years to make a change in this country?” Cherargei posed.
Cherargei went on to say that Murkomen has not presented any policy on how to tackle police misconduct. He urged President William Ruto to reshuffle the Cabinet and move Murkomen back to Sports, sarcastically noting that he seems more interested in playing games than handling serious national issues.
“He has not presented any policy on police brutality. It is high time the President does a cabinet reshuffle and takes CS Murkomen back to Sports because he likes ‘letaring mchezo’ in the business that we are discussing in this country. Everybody must be held accountable,” the Senator stated.
Cherargei’s remarks come amid national outrage following Ojwang’s mysterious death after being arrested by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). Ojwang died in detention at the Central Police Station just hours after his arrest.
Resignation
The Ministry of Interior has come under intense scrutiny, with many accusing Murkomen of failing to take responsibility.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale also took a hard stance, calling for Murkomen to step aside immediately.
“You dare to come and face the parliament of Kenya and tell Kenyans, ‘you don’t see and you don’t know.’ For the respect of this young man (Albert Ojwang), can you immediately resign? You are not fit to be in that docket,” Khalwale said
In response to the growing backlash, Murkomen appeared before the Senate on Wednesday and distanced his ministry from direct blame. He pointed to Article 245 of the Constitution, which gives investigative authority to independent bodies and limits the powers of the Cabinet Secretary over police operations.
“Unfortunately, the Constitution did not give me the eyes to see who is culpable; those eyes have been given to investigative authorities under 245 of the Constitution,” he told senators.
“I cannot direct the Inspector General of the National Police Service. Article 245(4) of the Constitution is very clear that the Cabinet Secretary responsible for police service, which in this situation is myself, may lawfully give direction to the Inspector General concerning any matter of policy for the National Police Service.”
Government pathologist Dr. Bernard Midia, who conducted the post-mortem alongside family pathologist Mutuma Zambezi, revealed that Ojwang had multiple injuries that could not have been self-inflicted. The police had initially claimed that Ojwang hit his head against a wall.
“When we examined the pattern of the injury, especially the trauma I found on the head. Hitting against a blunt substance like a wall would have a pattern,” Dr. Midia said.
Adding;
“But the bleeds that we found on the scalp, on the skin of the head, were spaced, including on the face, sides of the head, and the back of the head.”
He added that injuries were also found on Ojwang’s upper limbs and torso, ruling out the possibility of self-harm.
When we tie up together with other injuries that are well spread on parts of the body. Then this is unlikely to be a self-inflicted injury,” he stated.
