Aasai

Opposition leaders have issued a strong demand for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Eliud Kipkoech Lagat, citing his alleged involvement in the death of blogger Albert Omondi Ojwang. The leaders, representing a coalition of opposition parties, delivered a joint statement in Nairobi on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, giving authorities a 24-hour ultimatum to apprehend Lagat and present him in court.

The opposition’s united voice came in response to the recent postmortem results, which revealed that Ojwang’ died from multiple injuries to the head, neck, and limbs—injuries consistent with torture and physical assault. The incident, which occurred while Ojwang’ was in police custody at the Central Police Station, has sparked national outrage and renewed debate on police brutality and accountability in Kenya.

Democratic Party (DP) leader Justin Muturi, speaking on behalf of the opposition coalition, emphasized the severity of the matter. “The postmortem of Albert is clear, and all Kenyans have formed the opinion that he was murdered,” Muturi said. “In light of the foregoing, we are calling not just for the resignation but for the arrest and arraignment in court of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police Eliud Lagat within 24 hours of this statement.”

The leaders highlighted that Lagat was the original complainant in the case that led to Ojwang’s arrest and subsequent death, raising serious conflict-of-interest concerns. They argued that he cannot continue to serve in office while being at the center of such a serious investigation.

The demands for Lagats arrest follow similar calls for his resignation by Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot and several other senators. Cheruiyot, while addressing the Senate on Tuesday, acknowledged that Lagat had not been declared guilty but insisted that stepping aside would be the most honorable path to ensure impartial investigations. “When you are the deputy of an institution and officers under your command are involved in a case that results in someone’s death, it is only proper to step aside,” said Cheruiyot. “Nobody has said you are guilty, but the country deserves transparency.”

Muturi further stressed the importance of protecting junior officers who have been interdicted in connection with the case, warning that they may be at risk due to their potential knowledge of what truly transpired. “We similarly demand that the junior officers currently being persecuted be given witness protection with immediate effect. Their lives are in danger because they know the truth,” he stated.

On Monday, June 9, 2025, the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) of Central Police Station, Samson Talaam, was interdicted along with his deputy, Samuel Nganga, and four other officers—Charles Muriuki, Debian Lusweti, Evaline Kanyiri, and Peter Kimani. Kimani was reportedly supervising the cells during the time of the incident.

The postmortem conducted on June 10, 2025, confirmed that Ojwang’ had suffered extensive injuries caused by blunt force trauma, contradicting earlier police reports that he had accidentally injured himself by hitting his head on a wall. The findings fueled growing suspicion that Ojwang’ was tortured, prompting widespread condemnation from human rights groups, political leaders, and the public.

The oppositions bold stance adds to the mounting pressure on the government and security agencies to ensure that justice is served. As the country waits for a response from the authorities, attention now turns to how swiftly and transparently the investigations will proceed—and whether senior officials will be held accountable in line with public expectations.