A dramatic prison van escape ended fatally for former Kirimari Ward ODM aspirant Swaleh Oswado, who was shot dead by police on Tuesday morning in Gatondo, Embu West. Oswado, who was in remand facing murder charges, had just left Siakago Law Courts when he launched a bold escape, blinding officers with pepper before fleeing from the police vehicle.
According to Embu West Sub-County Police Commander Vincent Kitili, the remandee caught officers off guard when he suddenly threw pepper into their eyes during transport. Amid the confusion, Oswado broke free from custody and sprinted into nearby fields. Despite repeated verbal warnings, the officers say he ignored their commands to stop, prompting them to open fire. He was fatally shot and pronounced dead at the scene, with his body later moved to Embu Level 5 Hospital Mortuary for a postmortem.
The escape wasn’t a solo effort. In the same incident, another remandee managed to slip away during the chaos. Police have since launched a manhunt to trace and arrest the fugitive, whose identity has not yet been disclosed. Authorities suspect that the escape may have been a coordinated plan between the two suspects.
Swaleh Oswado’s death has sparked widespread reactions in Embu, where he was once known as a rising political figure. In the 2022 general elections, he unsuccessfully contested for the Kirimari Ward seat on an ODM ticket, positioning himself as a voice for local youth and development. His transition from political ambition to a murder suspect had shocked many residents long before this final twist in his story.
The use of lethal force, even in the face of an active escape, has already begun to raise questions. Rights advocates have pointed out that Oswado had not yet been convicted and remained innocent in the eyes of the law. They argue that the police had alternatives and should have resorted to non-lethal means to subdue him. Calls are growing for an independent investigation into the officers’ conduct during the incident.
As is procedure in such incidents, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is expected to open an inquiry to determine whether due process was followed and whether the use of force was necessary and proportionate. Police have maintained that the attack on officers and the danger posed by an escaping murder suspect left them with limited options.
As investigations continue and the search for the second escapee intensifies, the name Swaleh Oswado now closes a chapter not as a leader, but as a man whose final hours left behind a cloud of controversy and unanswered questions.
