DIG Lagat on the spot over Albert Ojwang's death

Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat is under scrutiny following the arrest and mysterious death of online influencer and teacher, Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody.

In a bid to quell public speculation, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja confirmed that Lagat, who heads the Kenya Police Service (NPS), was behind the complaint that led to Ojwang’s arrest in Homa Bay. The 27-year-old was later transferred to Nairobi, where he died in custody within hours.

Speaking at Central Police Station in Nairobi, where Ojwang was allegedly found unconscious, Kanja revealed, “There was a complaint that had been logged by the DIG KPS (Eliud Lagat) that his name was being tarnished, and that is why Albert Ojwang was arrested.”

Ojwang was picked up by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers at his rural home in Homa Bay County. He was accused of publishing defamatory material online. After his arrest, he was transported to Nairobi, booked under OB number 136/7/2025, and detained at Central Police Station.

The following morning, officers on duty allegedly found him unconscious during a routine cell check. He was rushed to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. This version, given by Kanja, contradicted an earlier statement by Police Spokesman Muchiri Nyaga.

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“While in custody, the suspect sustained head injuries after hitting his head against the cell wall. Police officers on duty promptly noticed the injuries and rushed him to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival,” Nyaga said. 

The conflicting accounts have drawn suspicion from the public, politicians, and human rights bodies, many of whom suspect a cover-up. Adding to the controversy, Kanja was accompanied at the press briefing by Lagat himself and Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) chairperson Ahmed Issack, despite Lagat being at the centre of the case.

Issack confirmed IPOA had launched a probe. “We have received the information from the IG and have commenced our investigations in accordance with the law. I want to assure his father and the public that IPOA will do everything possible to ensure justice is served,” he said. 

However, many Kenyans expressed concern over the presence of Lagat at the press conference, questioning how a person of interest in the case could influence the narrative so publicly. They also expressed fears that IPOA’s involvement might not be impartial.

To calm tensions, Kanja announced the interdiction of the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), the duty officer, the cell sentry, and all report officers on duty at the time of Ojwang’s death.

“To ensure a thorough, impartial, and expeditious investigation by IPOA, I have ordered the interdiction of all officers involved,” Kanja said, though he declined to name them.

The legality of Ojwang’s transfer from Homa Bay to Nairobi has also been questioned. Section 71 of the Criminal Procedure Code states that an offence should ordinarily be tried in the locality where it occurred or where the suspect was arrested. The decision to transport Ojwang hundreds of kilometres away raises legal and ethical concerns.

Further complicating the matter, a scheduled post-mortem examination at the Nairobi Funeral Home was unexpectedly postponed. It was reported that government pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor excused himself, citing a conflict of interest.

As outrage mounts, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has publicly called for the immediate suspension of Lagat. “He must take full responsibility for this murder,” Gachagua posted on X.

He alleged that Lagat was running operations at Kamukunji and Central Police Stations without the knowledge of the Inspector General.

Describing the two police stations as “torture chambers,” Gachagua questioned why junior officers were being suspended while senior figures, such as Lagat remained untouched. “Suspending junior officers at Central Police Station is hoodwinking Kenyans. For any meaningful investigation to be done, Eliud Lagat must be suspended immediately,” he said.

This incident has put pressure on the National Police Service, especially as more questions emerge over the treatment of suspects in custody and the influence of senior officers in investigations.

The public and civil rights groups are now demanding accountability, transparency, and justice for Ojwang. 

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) also weighed in, accusing the police of failing to follow lawful procedure during Ojwang’s arrest and transfer. LSK President Faith Odhiambo noted, “We are certain that no magistrate sat on the night of 7th June to approve Ojwang’s transfer from Mawego Police Station to Central Police Station in Nairobi.”

Citing Chapter 15 of the National Police Service Standing Orders, she argued that the transfer of a suspect outside a jurisdiction requires a magistrate’s order. “The failure to adhere to the law discloses ill-will, bad faith, and malice. We oppose any claim that his death was accidental or justifiable,” she said.

LSK demanded the names of interdicted officers be made public and accused Kanja of shielding suspects from scrutiny. “Why has he not named the particular officers who have been interdicted? What is the need to hide?” Odhiambo asked, adding; “We want to know who picked Ojwang. Are they among those interdicted?”

She called Kanja’s press statement “a PR stunt” and demanded full disclosure. “Without telling Kenyans in plain words who these individuals are, we will be treated to just PR for purposes of calming down the citizens,” said Faith.

LSK further called for Lagat’s removal from the ongoing investigation due to a conflict of interest and labelled Central and Kamukunji Police Stations as centres of abuse.

Faith also demanded for the disclosure of DCI officers who were involved in transporting the deceased from Homa Bay to Central Police Station where he was later found dead.

LSK demanded for immediate removal of Lagat from the ongoing investigations due to a conflict of interest and singled out Central Police Station as a facility for police brutality with Kamukunji Police Station being labelled as the chamber for abuse of those who are detained there. 

On their part, Kenya Youth Association (KYA) blamed state agencies for murdering Ojwang, another statistic of state-sanctioned extra-judicial killings that have become a hallmark of the Kenya Kwanza administration. 

“Albert was forcefully taken to Nairobi, detained at the Central Police Station, and within less than a day, he was dead. The absurd police narrative that he ‘hit his head on the wall’ is not just false, it is a crude insult to the intelligence and dignity of the Kenyan people,” read KYA's statement that demanded for the arrest of Lagat and all those involved in Ojwang's murder. 

International Justice Mission (IJM) Kenya condemned Ojwang’s death, urging authorities to ensure a fair and independent investigation. 

“We welcome the swift action taken by the Inspector General of Police, who has interdicted the Officer Commanding Station and all officers who were on duty at the time of Albert’s death. This is a critical step toward ensuring a fair, transparent, and impartial investigation,” said the organisation's Country Director Vincent Chahale.