Former Assistant Inspector General of Police Willy Lugusa is dead.
His family say he died in Nairobi, while receiving treatment.
Willy Lugusa was a decorated cop with many controversial stories; some positive, others negative.
Last year, he surprised many by resigning from his posts as acting Head of Inspectorate for Kisumu City, after city askaris were filmed dragging a hawker at the back of a pick-up.
“I hereby take full responsibility for the acts committed thereto. I hereby extend my deepest regret to all the people of Kisumu County and the nation as a whole for this is not what the county government of Kisumu represents,” he said in his letter of resignation.
This is a highly unusual direction from state officers. His resignation was discussed on social media for days.
In his heydays in the police service, Willy Lugusa witnessed a lot of Kenya’s low moments. Though celebrated as a crime buster in Nairobi, he was also criticized for not, for example, tackling the Post-Election Violence in Naivasha.
“46 people were killed in Naivasha. Police chief Willy Lugusa told the TJRC commission that those killed were shot, slashed to death or burnt in their homes. Willy was the area OCPD during post-election violence and he didn’t do much. I covered Naivasha”, Activist Boniface Mwangi tweeted in March 2021.
In 2016, as Nyanza regional head of police, Lugusa was instrumental in breaking apart a criminal gang. But in the sunset years of his career, his lackluster take on things might have contributed to the rise of criminal gangs in and around Kisumu.
Condolences
Tributes poured in from friends and former colleagues.
“He was admired by Junior and senior officers both uniformed and civilian as generous, cheerful, and friendly to those who had an opportunity to work with him,” the National Police Service wrote in part.
“I have learnt with shock and disbelief about the death of Mr Willy Lugusa, a former Kisumu City head of Inspectorate. He will be remembered for giving the County inspectorate a professional face. Despite holding senior positions in the Police Service and later at the County, Lugusa exhibited a rare humility, a trait that endeared him to many people”, Kisumu Governor Professor Anyang’ Nyong’o wrote in part.
Kenyan Business Feed sends our condolences to the family and friends of Willy Lugusa.
Kenyan Business Feed is the top Kenyan Business Blog. We share news from Kenya and across the region. To contact us with any alert, please email us to [email protected]