After receiving harsh criticism online for remarks she made in the wake of Albert Ojwang’s contentious death while in police custody, nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has publicly apologised. Known for her vocal social media presence, Nyamu faced criticism when a since-deleted tweet seemed to imply that the opposition might have planned a self-abduction scenario in relation to Ojwang’s passing.
Given the seriousness of the tragedy, the post was widely denounced as politically tone-deaf and insensitive.
“I don’t apologize or retract often, not out of pride, but because I believe I have room to make mistakes and to be wrong sometimes,” she wrote. “But let’s be clear, I never said the gentleman abducted himself. Verify what I said. Notwithstanding the declaration, the senator’s explanation did little to allay public indignation.
Instead of accepting responsibility for her provocative comments, she was accused by many of attempting to shift the blame elsewhere. Nyamu’s initial post, which featured a picture of the deceased Ojwang, suggested that the tragedy might be another set-up and accused the opposition of putting on earlier political plots.
“Shameless self-abductions have been witnessed… She had written, “But aki ya Mungu, every blood you shed you shall pay for it in your lifetime.” The comments were widely denounced, with detractors pointing out how ridiculous it was to imply that the opposition had planned a death that took place within a police station.
By Kenyans