Lawyers reject claims linking Lagat to murder, ask for evidence

Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat addresses the Press at Wilson Airport, Nairobi, on April 28, 2025. [File, Standard]

Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat has maintained that he was not involved in the murder of Albert Ojwang’.

Instead, the embattled police boss, told Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) investigators that he was an innocent complainant, and that his office was not investigating the case.

Lagat challenged Ipoa to produce specific evidence that directly links him to Ojwang’s death. According to information gleaned from sources, Lagat insisted that his complaint was being investigated by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), which is not under his control.

In his brief statement, the DIG in charge of Kenya Police Service who stepped aside to allow for impartial investigations, shifted the burden of proof to DCI and Ipoa, which grilled him on Thursday.

Lagat’s lawyers led by Cecil Miller also demanded to be shown any proof that their client gave any instructions.

Miller told The Standard that his client has nothing to hide over the unfortunate incident and that Lagat was merely a complainant in the matter. “Our client reported like any Kenyan, and there is nothing unusual lodging a complaint. After reporting, the unfortunate circumstances that followed has nothing to with my client; he was not at the station, and he was not the arresting officer,” said Miller.

According to the lawyer, Lagat learnt of Ojwang’s death the following day, and that he is optimistic justice will prevail.

“He was not involved in the arrest; neither did he give directions where Albert was to be taken or held,” added Miller.

The DIG was, however, pressed to explain why on the particular day Ojwang’ was arrested and subsequently died later in police custody, he had been in communication with Central Police Station OCS Samson Taalam.

In his response, the DIG statement that Talaam was personally known to him and that was not the first time they were communicating. He said he usually communicates with junior officers, Talaam included.

And in a statement while asking the media to exercise caution, Ipoa chairman Ahmed Issack indicated that following miscellaneous applications, the courts have determined that all suspects in custody be held for more time to allow the authority to conclude investigations.

On allegations regarding misuse of OCS Talaam’s mobile phone, Issack stated that they have demonstrated in court the phone was procedurally seized by forensic experts, and it is securely held.

It had been claimed that the phone was used by a senior Ipoa officer to solicit for huge sums of money. “The authority has also written to DCI to look into the allegations made, which have yet to be substantiated.