The Mountain Journal
editor@themountainjournal.co.ke
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has warned that ongoing killing of innocent Kenyans by the
police could plunge the country into anarchy.
Waiguru further warned again cover-up of the killings by police officers terming the recent
shooting of a street vendor and the killing of Albert Ojwang at the Central Police Station in
Nairobi as unwarranted and blatant violation of law.
The governor called out the police for their role in extrajudicial killings and what she termed as
unjustifiable acts of violence against citizens.
Speaking during the distribution of climate change mitigation items at Kamiigua Grounds in
Kutus, Governor Waiguru who delivered a hard-hitting address, cited the death of Ojwang in
police cells as a glaring example of state overreach and the erosion of democratic values.
“No leader of sane mind can support the abduction of young people. We are insulted every day
from morning to evening, but we don’t send people to arrest or kill. Leadership demands a higher
level of tolerance. If you can’t control yourself, then you don’t qualify to lead.” Waiguru
declared.
The visibly concerned governor said it was disturbing that in a democratic society, individuals
could be abducted from their homes, detained in police cells, and end up dead without any
immediate accountability. She demanded swift action, not mere rhetoric.
“We must see justice being done,” she said. “It is not enough to say that investigations are
underway. The people of Kenya deserve transparency and real consequences for those who abuse
power.”
Governor Waiguru also condemned the police shooting of a young protester during recent
demonstrations in Nairobi’s CBD, calling it unjustifiable and an indictment on law enforcement
conduct.
“I watched the video myself, I saw a young man standing unarmed and unprovokingly, yet he
was shot. There can be no justification for taking a life – even in the face of protest. We cannot
descend into lawlessness where anyone with a gun feels entitled to shoot.” She said.
While reaffirming respect for law enforcement, the governor stressed that police must exercise
restraint and be held to the same standards of accountability as the public.
“Police are trained to withstand provocation. If one lacks the mental endurance required to
manage public pressure, then they should not be entrusted with a firearm,” she asserted.
She emphasized that while protests must remain peaceful and non-destructive, the police must
uphold the law by respecting the constitutional right to picket and refrain from excessive force.
Governor Waiguru’s remarks come amid growing national outcry over the rising trend of state-
linked violence, with civil society groups, religious leaders, and human rights organizations
calling for urgent police reforms and justice for victims.
ENDS……….
