How DIG Lagat has been cornered over Ojwang's death

DIG Police Eliud Lagat leaves IPOA offices after a three-hour grilling over the murder of teacher Albert Ojwang on June 19, 2025. [Jonah Onyango, Standard] When embattled Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat stood on the steps of Central Police Station flanked by his boss, Douglas Kanja and Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) chairperson Isaack Hassan, following the death of Albert Ojwang', the contradiction could not have been more glaring. In a moment that raised eyebrows across the country, the very oversight body tasked with probing police misconduct had just shared a platform with the man at the centre of a storm, both as a senior officer and as the subject of a grave complaint in the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang'. For many, it's cut a troubling image: an investigator appeared to have lain in the same bed with a man the public was demanding answers from. And so, nearly two weeks later, and under mounting public pressure, Ipoa seems to have been forced to change tack, finally pulling the rug from under the embattled DIG. Lagat, the second most powerful officer in the National Police Service, now firmly finds himself on the other side of the table. And now, just like the statements he has overseen others give over the years, he was compelled to record his own-put to task to explain how a civilian ended up dead in the hands of those sworn to protect. Lagat's appearance at Ipoa headquarters in Nairobi came a day after he was summoned to shed light on what he knew and his role, after his name was dragged into the matter. He was accompanied by a lawyer, sources said. The session lasted for close to three hours behind closed doors. Details of the interrogation remained tightly guarded by Ipoa officials. "I can confirm that the DIG was here and he has recorded his statement. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to engage the media on the matter as for now," said one of the sources at the Ipoa. According to the source, among those who grilled Lagat were the authority's chairperson, Ahmed Issack Hassan and Chief Executive Officer Elema Halake, accompanied by the body's senior investigators. Details of Lagat's grilling have remained scant, but a source who spoke to The Standard on condition of anonymity revealed that Lagat played innocent throughout the questioning process, saying he learned of the arrest of Ojwang through police communication systems. "He told Ipoa that his only interaction with Ojwang's death was via a police signal shared to him and had nothing to do with it," observed the source. What was clear, however, is that his appearance marked a critical moment in the inquiry that has triggered public outrage. Despite the presence of members of the media outside Ipoa offices, Lagat still managed to avoid cameras and evaded journalists who had waited for hours, hoping to capture his arrival or departure. His statement is expected to add to the evidence Ipoa is compiling ahead of prosecutions. And with that, Lagat now joins the list of 21 police officers and six civilians who have been questioned so far in connection with the murder. On Wednesday, the oversight body said it was confident that its file, complete with recommendations to charge culpable individuals, would be ready by early next week. Lagat's name has been linked to the matter since it was his complaint that led to Ojwang's arrest on the night of 7 June. According to the senior officer, Ojwang, alongside Kevin Moinde and others, was behind an online smear campaign implicating him in corruption. He said he reported the matter to the Cyber Crime Unit at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), where Wesley Kipkorir Kirui, Dennis Kinyoni, Milton Mwanze and Boniface Rabudo were tasked with tracking the group. The officers travelled to Ojwang's Kakoth home, Kokwanyo village in Homa Bay County, where they picked him up. After being interrogated at Mazingira Complex, the DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road, Ojwang' was taken to Central Police Station where he was clobbered to death by three prisoners who have since been arraigned, alongside OCS Samson Taalam, his deputy Samuel Ng'an'ga, and Constable James Mukwana. Kelvin Mutisya Mutava, a civilian, is accused of tampering with the CCTV system on the night of the killing. Initially, police claimed that Ojwang' had attempted to commit suicide and died upon arrival at Mbagathi Hospital, where he had been rushed. The suicide version collapsed after an autopsy revealed that the teacher-cum-blogger had succumbed to head injuries, neck compression, and multiple soft tissue trauma. Following nationwide outrage, Lagat bowed to pressure, stepping aside from his position, citing public interest and the need for impartial investigations. His announcement, however, did little to calm public anger. "I undertake to provide any support that may be required of me during the investigations of the unfortunate incident. I offer immense condolences to the family of Mr Albert Ojwang for their great loss," said Lagat. His appearance at Ipoa came amid sustained calls for his arrest, with critics questioning whether he can be investigated fairly given his seniority in the police service. Former Chief Justice David Maraga demanded Lagat's immediate dismissal and prosecution, arguing there was sufficient evidence linking him to the illegal arrest, torture, and murder of Ojwang. Public pressure continues to mount, with demonstrators staging protests demanding his removal from office and prosecution. On Tuesday, Boniface Kariuki suffered a severe brain injury after being shot by a police officer in the capital, Nairobi, where protestors were demanding Lagat's resignation. The 22-year-old remains in critical condition at Kenyatta National Hospital. Investigators wanted Lagat to shed light on events surrounding Ojwang's death in the hands of police, who attempted to cover up the murder. Ipoa investigations have extended to mobile data from persons of interest and forensic analysis of biological samples. The authority also sought external support to retrieve digital evidence at the police station. Initially, in a statement on 8 June, Police Spokesman Muchiri Nyaga said Ojwang was found unconscious after hitting his head on the wall several times. While ruling out self-inflicted injuries, lead pathologist Bernard Midia explained that bleeds found on Ojwang's scalp and skin of the head were spaced. "When we tie up together with other injuries that are well spread on parts of the body, including the upper limbs and trunk, then this is unlikely to be self-inflicted injury," explained Midia. Opposition leaders and human rights groups had expressed fear that Ojwang might not get justice, since the probe was likely to be compromised. On the day the budget was being read in Parliament, protestors paralysed the Central Business District chanting 'Lagat must go', insisting that the DIG should resign. A day earlier, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale was blunt, saying: "It is not enough to ask the Deputy IG to resign. We want Eliud Lagat to be arrested so that he can write a statement from the police station, for it to be clearer to him that he has a responsibility." Posting on his X account on 9 June, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua demanded Lagat's suspension, saying: "He must take full responsibility for this murder."

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