DIG Eliud Lagat makes a return after days out of office
Deputy Inspector General of Police (KPS) Eliud Lagat is set to resume his duties today after he was cleared of any wrongdoing in the murder of teacher and blogger Albert Omondi Ojwang, who was buried two weeks ago after dying while in police custody at the Nairobi Central Police Station.
Lagat’s return to work comes as investigations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) indicate that there was no direct link between the assault and murder of the teacher to his death and the DIG.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja confirmed to local press that his deputy was found not culpable and is expected back to work today.
“I hope to see him back at the office today because he has been cleared by all the investigations,” Kanja told the press.
His return comes amid public scrutiny and legal uncertainty after a UK-based Kenyan activist, Eliud Karanja Matindi, filed a petition at the Milimani High Court seeking his official removal.
In the petition, Matindi argued that Lagat’s decision to step aside amounts to a de facto resignation under Section 12 of the National Police Service Act.
“Lagat is deemed to have resigned as DIG on June 16, 2025… having determined, on his motion, that he could no longer lawfully discharge the functions of DIG,” Karanja noted in his petition.
The petitioner has also accused the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) of failing in its constitutional duty by allowing the DIG to step aside without initiating disciplinary proceedings against him.
“It was not in Mr Lagat’s place to make that determination. It was, instead, the NPSC’s constitutional duty to make that call, as demanded by Article 246(3)(b) of the Constitution,” the activist argues.
Karanja has challenged Lagat’s appointment of Tito as acting DIG, stating the NPSC is the only body constitutionally mandated to appoint or recommend officers to such senior posts.
“Under the Constitution, there can only be one DIG, Kenya Police Service at any one time… The charade of having a substantive and an acting DIG… is a gross violation of the Constitution,” he adds.
Through his lawyer, Cecil Miller, Lagat has defended himself, saying his stepping aside was temporary and he did it in good faith.
The case is scheduled for mention today before Justice Chacha Mwita.
A post-mortem revealed that Ojwang was strangled and beaten to death.
Five individuals, including Central Police Station OCS Samson Talaam, police officers John Mukhwana and Peter Kimani, civilians John Ngige Gitau and civilians Gin Ammitou Abwao, and Brian Mwaniki Njue, have since been charged with his murder.
Lagat stepped aside after it emerged that he had filed the initial complaint that led to Ojwang’s arrest. The teacher and blogger had allegedly linked the DIG to corruption in a social media post.
The DIG later issued a public statement explaining his decision to temporarily vacate office.
