The Pentecostal Voice of Kenya has strongly condemned the killing of teacher Albert Ojwang, who died under controversial circumstances while in police custody. Speaking during a press briefing at a Nairobi hotel on Saturday, chairman Peter Manyuru said the church was deeply disturbed by the incident and called for unity and an end to extrajudicial killings in the country.
“It is not a good thing, and it is something we as a church strongly condemn,” Manyuru stated, adding that the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death were troubling and warranted immediate action from authorities.
While refraining from apportioning blame, the church urged Kenyans from all walks of life to foster peace and national cohesion. “By being united, the country will be able to defeat the ever-occurring extrajudicial killings,” Manyuru said.
The church further called on the government to take a firm stand against such killings, noting that this was not an isolated incident. “We have seen many other cases before, and we want to call upon the government to stand firm against this vice,” he added.
Addressing recent protests sparked by Ojwang’s death, Manyuru appealed to the youth to remain peaceful and avoid destruction of property, even as they express their grievances. He emphasized that although many protesters had good intentions, some individuals with ill motives were tarnishing the credibility of the demonstrations.
Ojwang’s death has sparked national outrage, particularly in Nairobi, where demonstrators took to the streets demanding accountability. The teacher was last seen at the Central Police Station, where he was reportedly held before his unexplained death.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja confirmed that investigations into the incident were ongoing and urged the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to take the lead, especially in light of allegations of tampered CCTV footage at the station. “Let us allow IPOA to conduct quick investigations so that we can know what happened,” Kanja said.
The Pentecostal Voice of Kenya extended its condolences to Ojwang’s family, reaffirming the need for truth, justice, and healing amid growing public concern over police conduct and accountability.
