Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat steps aside following growing public outrage over the killing of Albert Ojwang

Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Kipkoech Lagat has formally stepped aside from his duties following mounting public outrage over the death of blogger Albert Ojwang’ while in police custody.

The decision, announced on Monday, June 16, 2025, comes as investigations into Ojwang’s death intensify, with allegations of foul play and calls for accountability reverberating across the nation.

Lagat’s move to step aside was prompted by widespread condemnation of the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death, which occurred after his arrest on defamation charges allegedly filed by the senior police officer.

Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher and social media commentator, died under suspicious circumstances, with an autopsy revealing signs of assault, including a head injury, neck compression, and soft tissue damage.

These findings contradicted initial police claims that Ojwang had sustained injuries by hitting his head against a cell wall.

In a statement issued earlier today, Lagat cited the weight of his office and the public interest surrounding the case as reasons for his decision.

“I have today opted to step aside from the office of the Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service pending completion of investigations,” Lagat said, acknowledging the gravity of the situation and the need for an impartial inquiry.

The outrage intensified following remarks by former Chief Justice David Maraga, who on Monday called for Lagat’s immediate arrest and prosecution, citing prima facie evidence linking him to Ojwang’s arrest, torture, and eventual death.

“There is prima facie evidence that Mr Eliud Lagat — directly or indirectly, by himself or through his accomplices — is implicated in the illegal arrest, torture, strangulation, and eventual murder of the late Albert Ojwang,” Maraga stated, amplifying the public demand for justice.

Ojwang’s death has become a focal point of broader concerns about police brutality and extrajudicial killings in Kenya, issues that have plagued the country for years.

The incident has also reignited debates about the accountability of high-ranking officials and the need for systemic reforms within the police force.

“This is a clear case of abuse of power, and it cannot go unpunished,” said a human rights activist, reflecting the sentiment of many Kenyans. Lagat was the Commandant of Kenya’s General Service Unit (GSU) before his current role.