Nairobi – Calls for the resignation of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eliud Lagat, are growing after he was allegedly implicated in the death of digital content creator Albert Ojwang. A postmortem conducted on Tuesday revealed that Ojwang was tortured and strangled while in police custody — findings that directly contradict earlier police claims suggesting he died by suicide.
Lagat is said to have ordered Ojwang’s arrest following the blogger’s publication of content critical of him. Legal experts and human rights advocates argue this move was a clear misuse of authority, especially since Kenya’s courts nullified criminal defamation laws in 2017. Under current law, such disputes should be addressed through civil litigation rather than through the criminal justice system.
Despite the autopsy confirming police involvement, no suspects have been apprehended — a delay that starkly contrasts with the swift arrests in the recent case of former Kasipul Kabondo MP Ongondo Were’s murder on April 30, 2025.
Three days after Ojwang’s death on June 8, there’s been little progress. Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja is facing public pressure to take immediate action, with many urging the suspension or removal of Lagat. Meanwhile, the National Police Service (NPS) has issued only a vague statement promising a speedy investigation — further fueling concerns of a cover-up. Silence from Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen and President William Ruto has added to growing public frustration, with rights groups warning this may become yet another case of police abuse going unpunished.
As the public and Ojwang’s family demand justice, attention now turns to whether state institutions will uphold accountability or shield those in power. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has tasked the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) with fast-tracking its investigation.
In a statement dated June 10, 2025, the ODPP confirmed that IPOA had already begun probing the matter and affirmed its commitment to pursuing justice in line with the law and public interest.
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