New information has come out about officers from the General Service Unit (GSU) visiting the Standard Group office on Mombasa Road in Nairobi. This visit happened after a fake news story involving Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat was shared online.
On April 22, 2025, CCTV videos from the Standard Group showed a Probox car with the license plate KDD 055Z arriving at the media office and parking. Soon after, three people entered the building and said they were GSU officers.
On June 11, the Standard Group reported that the officers wanted to ask about a fake news front page called “The Richest Cop”, which had a picture of DIG Lagat. This fake headline upset many people in the police force. After asking a few questions, the officers left the building quickly.
A check by the Standard Group using the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) system showed that the license plate on the Probox was not real. It actually belonged to a black Subaru Forester.
A few days later, another fake front page called “The Mafia Cop” appeared, also using the Standard Group’s name. This article claimed that Lagat had put loyal officers in important positions to control money and information. It also said he was under investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for supposedly buying a Ksh 335.9 million property in Dubai.
After this second fake headline, DIG Lagat filed a complaint with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) against a person named Albert Ojwang.
On June 7, 2025, DCI officers arrested Ojwang at his home in Kakot, Homa Bay County, around 3:30 p.m. They first took him to Mawego Police Station and then moved him to Nairobi’s Central Police Station, where he later died while in custody.
Ojwang’s death has led to many people speaking out against Lagat, calling for him to resign or step aside since he made the complaint.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has asked for Lagat to be suspended immediately. He claimed that Lagat ordered Ojwang’s arrest and was involved in moving him to Nairobi.
“Suspending junior officers at Central Police Station is merely tricking Kenyans. For a real investigation to happen, Mr Eliud Lagat must be suspended right away,” Gachagua said.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale agreed, saying Lagat should resign and be arrested.
“Resignation is not enough. We want him arrested so he can give a statement from a police cell,” Khalwale said.
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot also commented, urging Lagat to step aside during the investigation. He said Lagat is a friend, but suggested that stepping aside would help everyone understand what really happened.
“I advise the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr Lagat, that nobody has accused you yet. But for the country to know the truth, you should step aside until the investigation is finished,” Cheruiyot said.
