Kaluma cautions public against rushing to judgement in Ojwang murder case
Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has urged Kenyans to refrain from drawing hasty conclusions regarding the death of Albert Omondi Ojwang, who died in police custody on Sunday, June 8, 2025.
Kaluma emphasised the importance of following due process, warning that the rule of law must not be undermined by public pressure.
In a statement posted on his X account on Friday, June 13, 2025, Kaluma noted that accusations of murder must meet a strict legal threshold and be supported by evidence that can stand in court.
“One commits the criminal offence of murder if he kills or conspires with others to kill a human person with malice aforethought. The burden of proof lies with the prosecution and the standard of proof is beyond any reasonable doubt,” he said.
Follow due process
Kaluma warned that outrage alone is not enough to convict anyone of a serious crime like murder. He referenced the Biblical crucifixion of Jesus as an example of public pressure overriding justice.
“It is not enough for the public to shout ‘crucify him!’ There must be solid evidence to prove the act of killing beyond any shadow of doubt.”
He further argued that lodging a complaint with police, as allegedly happened in Ojwang’s case, cannot be considered evidence of intent to kill unless proven otherwise.
Ensure thorough investigations
The MP stressed the need for thorough and impartial investigations, adding that even if there is strong public sentiment, the law must be respected.
“The investigating authority must thoroughly investigate and come up with watertight evidence to convict the person accused of murder.”
Kaluma also pointed out that individuals accused of murder have various legal defences available to them, including alibi, provocation, or temporary insanity, depending on the circumstances.
IPOA rejects cover-up
On Thursday, June 12, 2025, IPOA Chairperson Isaack Hassan appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Security, where he firmly rejected claims that the authority was complicit in shielding officers involved in the case.
“IPOA is not going to be used as a fire extinguisher to extinguish all fires generated from police misconduct. We are not going to be used as a cover-up,” Hassan said.
