DIG Eliud Lagat eats a humble pie, steps aside pending completion of Ojwang’s murder probe amid national outrage
Lagat has announced his resignation in a statement this afternoon, saying he was relinquishing his role in order to protect the integrity of the probe amid growing national outrage coupled by law suits instituted against him to exit office
The Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service (KPS) Eliud Kipkoech Lagat has finally eaten a humble pie and bowed to pressure to step aside to allow for independent investigations into the morbid killing of 31 years old teacher Omondi Ojwang while in police custody.
It is not clear whether Ojwang died at the Nairobi Central Police Station cells or elsewhere, but a report from Mbagathi Hospital shows by the time he was taken there at dawn, but he was already dead.
Ojwang was arrested at his Migori home and transported to Nairobi following a defamation complaint by Lagat as confirmed by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja before he controversially met his macabre killing resulting from what the autopsy report showed to be intense torture and possible strangulation through “neck compression.”
Lagat has announced his resignation in a statement this afternoon, saying he was relinquishing his role in order to protect the integrity of the probe amid growing national outrage coupled by law suits instituted against him to exit office.
“I have today opted to step aside from the office of the Deputy Inspector General – Kenya Police Service pending completion of investigations,” he stated, handing over to his deputy until completion of the investigations.
The move comes after intense public pressure and repeated calls for his resignation by civil society, political leaders and members of the public following the murder of Ojwang who had been arrested over a social media post criticising Lagat.
As the investigation unfolds, Central Police Station OCS Samson Talaam and Police Constable James Mukhwana have already been arrested.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has also detained three civilian detainees Gin Ammitou Abwao, Collins Karani Ireri, and Brian Mwaniki Njue who were held at the same station during Ojwang’s detention. Authorities allege the trio were used by police to torture Ojwang’, ultimately leading to his death.
Ojwang’s death, under police custody, has once again rekindled concerns over extrajudicial practices, impunity, and the urgent need for institutional reform within Kenya’s security apparatus.
Ojwang was reported dead a day after his detention at Nairobi’s Central Police Station where he is believed to have been tortured to death.
In a sharp contradiction, initially, a police report claimed Ojwang collapsed in custody through suicide after he allegedly hit his hit against the wall repeatedly, but an independent autopsy revealed blunt force trauma to the head, neck compression and multiple soft tissue injuries evidence consistent with a violent assault.
Lagat, who had remained silent since the incident, also offered his condolences to the family. “I offer immense condolences to the family of Mr. Albert Ojwang for their great loss,” he said.
He pledged to cooperate fully with the authorities conducting the probe. “I undertake to provide any support that may be required of me during the investigations of the unfortunate incident.”
President William Ruto, while commenting last week, had condemned Ojwang’s death and said all perpetrators, whether civilian or in uniform, would be held accountable. Several police officers and three civilian detainees have since been arrested in connection with the incident.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is leading the investigation, which includes a forensic review of tampered CCTV footage from the police station where Ojwang was held.
At least three senior police officers including Samson Talam, the Officer Commanding Nairobi Central Police Station a constable and a CCTV technician have been arrested in connection with the case.
In a further breakthrough, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) arrested three civilian detainees Gin Ammitou Abwao, Collins Karani Ireri and Brian Mwaniki Njue allegedly used by police officers to torture Ojwang while in custody.
Violent protests erupted in Nairobi last week as hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets demanding justice for Albert Ojwang. The protests, which began peacefully outside the Central Police Station, quickly escalated into clashes with anti-riot police.
