IPOA summons DIG Lagat to record statement over Omondi’s death
Lagat, who was the complainant in the case that led to the arrest of Ojwang, stepped aside as the DIG-Kenya Police Service on Monday
Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat is set to appear before the independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to record a statement in the ongoing investigations into the murder of the teacher and blogger Albert Omondi Ojwang while being held at the Nairobi Central Police Station.
In an update to the media, IPOA stated that it’s expecting the DIG who stepped aside to allow for investigations, to appear before it for interrogation after finding a basis.
“Having found a basis, IPOA has issued summons to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eliud Lagat, to appear before the Authority’s investigations team to record a statement,” IPOA Chairman Issak Hassan stated.
Lagat, who was the complainant in the case that led to the arrest of Omondi, stepped aside as the DIG-Kenya Police Service on Monday.
“I have today opted to step aside from the office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police-Kenya Police Service, pending completion of investigations into the unfortunate incident of the death of Albert Ojwang,” Lagat announced on Monday after protests and demands by human rights activists and politicians calling on him to resign.
Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, previously shared the chronology of events of how sleuths from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations DCI tracked the deceased to Homa Bay after the DIG launched a complaint, which he stated was officially done.
Further, Hassan said it has made an application to the telecommunication companies to provide phone data of persons of interest, whom it says will help in the investigations.
He added that the DVR footage from the Central Police Station and the biological samples from the Government Chemist are also under analysis.
“The Authority made a miscellaneous application to mobile service providers to supply it with mobile phone data for persons of interest, to help in the investigations into the murder of Ojwang. Further, the seized DVR footage from the Central Police Station and biological samples supplied to the Government Chemist are currently under analysis,” he stated.
Hassan said IPOA is closely working with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), and they are confident of finishing the investigations and forwarding the file with recommendations to charge Lagat by next week.
