Omondi was arrested for tarnishing the name of deputy IG Eliud Lagat, Kanja confirms

The late Albert Omondi Ojwang was arrested on Saturday for allegedly tarnishing the name of the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Kenya Police Service) Eliud Lagat.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja said Omondi was arrested together with a few others, whom he did not mention, nor give the exact number.

The IG stated that there have been ongoing investigations into the matter, which, he, however, did not specify.

“The reason why the late Albert was arrested, together with a few others, is that a complaint had been launched by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Kenya Police, Eliud Lagat, about his name being tarnished, so it was on that basis that investigations were being carried out,” Kanja stated.

He reiterated that the DIG is also protected by the law.

“The DIG also has the right to be protected by the same law,” he stated.

This is even as reports indicate that another social media influencer Kevin Moinde was also arrested yesterday in Kisii before being transported to Nairobi’s Kamukunji Police Station, where he was being held until today morning, when he reports indicated he was being taken to Milimani Law Courts.

More questions are being raised on the sudden death of Omondi, who the National Police Service (NPS) claimed was pronounced dead on arrival at Mbagathi Hospital after banging his head on the walls of the Central Police station where he was being held after his arrest on Saturday by DCI detectives in Homa Bay County at his family home.

Further, the police head stated that the officers who have been interdicted today are for allowing impartial investigations by the National Police Service (NPS) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).

“The interdiction is to allow the Investigations by IPOA to be done impartially. Those found guilty, then so be it, as the law will deal with them,” he stated.

While condemning the death of Omondi, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua blamed the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eliud Lagat, for the death of Omondi.

Gachagua claimed that Lagat was the one who ordered the arrest of Ojwang following a social media post he made.

“The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eliud Lagat, is the complainant, and the one who ordered the arrest in the alleged ‘crime’ that Ojwang committed was making a fair comment on his social media account on Mr. Eliud Lagat. He must take full responsibility for this murder,” he claimed.

The former DP also alleged that Lagat operates Kamukunji Police Station and Central Police Station without the knowledge of his boss.

“Lagat is personally operating Kamukunji Police Station and Central Police Station without the knowledge of the police IG. People are complaining that those two stations have become the new torture chambers. That is the reason Albert had to be moved from Homa Bay to Central Police Station in Nairobi,” he claimed.

Gachagua called for the immediate suspension of DIG Lagat pending investigations into the death of Ojwang.

The DCP Party leader pointed out that the suspension of junior police officers at Central Police Station is duping Kenyans.