Unbowed Lagat returns despite murder probe

Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat during a peace meeting at Kiango on the border of Kisii and Narok counties. [File, Standard] Many expected Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Eliud Lagat to stay away from office until he is completely cleared over the murder of Albert Ojwang who was a teacher and avid blogger. This is after Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) indicated last month that investigations had not concluded, and that the authority will hold him to account should he be found culpable. "IPOA's investigation is still active, and therefore the reports that the Authority has exonerated Lagat are misleading. If investigations find him culpable, IPOA will make appropriate recommendations to hold him to account," said the authority's chairman Issack Hassan in a statement. Initially, Lagat told Kenyans he was stepping aside to allow IPOA conduct investigations into the matter. But Lagat is back in office, and dispensing his duties in a move that has left Kenyans wondering whether he has been cleared. Over the past few days, the DIG who is in charge of Kenya Police Service, has been touring the country meeting officers with the latest visit in Mandera County on Saturday. While addressing the media in company of Gibert Masengeli, the DIG in charge of Administration Police Service, Lagat said the tour was to assess the well-being of officers and security situation in the county. "We are here this afternoon to assess the security situation within Mandera and to visit our officers and appreciate the work they have been doing in this part of the country," said the DIG. A week earlier on August 2, Lagat joined Kipchumba Murkomen in Marakwet East at Embobut Police Post where the Interior Cabinet Secretary was presiding over the upgrading of the facility. Lagat's full return to office has raised eyebrows with some Kenyans insisting he has no moral standing to continue serving in a sensitive role after being linked to Ojwang's murder. Vocal Africa Chief Executive Officer Hussein Khalid termed the resumption of duty as impunity of the highest order maintaining that DIG should be behind bars. "Albert Ojwang was murdered inside Central Police Station, a place that should symbolise law, not death. Lagat, as the commanding officer, bears undeniable command responsibility. In any just society, he would already be behind bars, if not for murder itself, then through command responsibility, for sanctioning or failing to prevent it," he said. Adding: "Instead, he walks free, shielded by a rotten system that protects killers in uniform. This betrayal of justice is an indictment of our leadership." IPOA grilled 18 officers including Lagat and six civilians in connection with the murder. Among the officers facing murder charges include Central Police Station OCS Samson Talaam, his two juniors Peter Kimani and James Mukwana. Ojwang', a father of one, is believed to have been clobbered to death at the Central Police Station, where he was taken after being picked from their rural home on June 7, 2025. An autopsy revealed that the 31-year-old died from head injuries, neck comprehension and multiple soft tissue trauma, ruling out self-inflicted injuries. According to lead pathologist Bernard Midia, the bleeds found on the scalp, 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. Security analyst George Musamali says the return of Lagat depicts lack of ethics and professionalism in the National Police Service, which for the longest time, has been associated with violation of human rights and corruption. "Even if is not directly linked to the death of Ojwang he should have had the courtesy of taking command responsibility bearing in mind that he was the complaint in the matter that led to death in a police station," noted the former police officer.

Unbowed Lagat returns despite murder probe

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