NAIROBI, Kenya — Lawyer Willis Otieno has questioned the continued use of the “TUTAM” slogan by some Luo political leaders, raising concerns over what he described as silence following the death of Anthony Ochieng Otieno after a police pursuit in Githurai, Nairobi.
Otieno’s remarks come amid growing calls for clarity over the circumstances surrounding Ochieng’s death, which occurred after a police chase on September 21.
According to police, Ochieng was among five men travelling in a Mazda CX-5 who were allegedly intercepted while offloading suspected stolen electronics at a second-hand shop in the Githurai area.
Police say the suspects sped away after noticing officers, triggering a chase. The vehicle reportedly lost control, hit an electricity pole and plunged into a ditch.
Ochieng sustained serious injuries and was taken to Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, where police said he was pronounced dead. Two other occupants reportedly escaped on foot.
Police have denied allegations that Ochieng was beaten or killed while in custody. Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud said the deceased succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash and called for investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding his death. A postmortem is expected to help determine the precise cause of death.
The case has, however, generated questions from Ochieng’s family, friends and other members of the public, with calls for a transparent and independent investigation.
His family has disputed aspects of the circumstances surrounding his death and is seeking answers on what happened between his arrest and his death.
Police have said investigators recovered 28 television sets, five home theatre systems, laptops, mobile phones and other items from the vehicle and the second-hand electronics shop. A dagger and crowbar were also reportedly recovered, while some of the electronics are being traced to theft cases reported in the Central Region.
Against this backdrop, Otieno has questioned whether political slogans such as “TUTAM” should be accompanied by action when members of the community face issues involving alleged police misconduct and accountability.
The debate has placed renewed attention on the responsibility of political leaders and public officials to respond to cases involving deaths following contact with law enforcement.
The competing accounts surrounding Ochieng’s death remain subject to investigation. The postmortem, examination of the crash scene and other investigations are expected to help establish the sequence of events and the cause of death.
