KIRINYAGA – Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has called for professionalism and tolerance from leaders and law enforcement officers, amid growing public outrage over the death of blogger Albert Ojwang and the police shooting of street vendor Boniface Kariuki.
Speaking during a public function at Kamiigua Grounds in Kutus while distributing climate change mitigation items, Waiguru said there is no justification for taking a life—“even under provocation.”
“As leaders, we are insulted daily, but we don’t retaliate by arresting critics. Leadership demands maturity and tolerance,” she stated. “If you can’t control your emotions, you don’t qualify to lead.”
Referring to the recent fatal incidents, the governor decried what she termed a dangerous trend in law enforcement. “It is extremely unfortunate that in a democratic republic, people can be abducted from their homes, locked up, and killed,” she said.
Waiguru stressed that video evidence showed no provocation in the shooting of Kariuki, and emphasized that verbal insults can never justify the use of deadly force. “If anger is used to justify killings, where does that leave us as a country?” she asked.
She called for immediate and visible accountability, noting that mere statements were not enough. “Action must be seen and believed by the public.”
Waiguru insisted that police officers must be held to the same standard of accountability as civilians. “They are trained to handle provocation. If one cannot endure pressure, they shouldn’t carry a firearm.”
While urging protesters to remain peaceful, she also challenged the police to respect constitutional rights, including the right to picket, and to desist from using excessive force. “The law must be upheld by all,” she concluded.
