PRWG-K Calls for the stepping aside of Eliud Lagat, Deputy Inspector General of Police
Nairobi, 11 June 2025, PRWG-K[1] Has reviewed the postmortem findings into the death of Albert Ojwang (31) and confirms, as many Kenyans already know, he did not die from self-inflicted injuries as earlier claimed by the National Police Service.
We call for the immediate stepping aside of Mr. Eliud Lagat, the Deputy Inspector General and head of the Kenya Police, who has been revealed to be the complainant in the matter that led to the arrest of Albert Ojwang. Mr. Lagat must, in the public interest, allow for an impartial and speedy investigation. Investigation into the death of Albert Ojwang cannot be impartial or be seen to be impartial while the complainant is at the helm of the investigation.
We call on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), to immediately summon and take statements from Eliud Lagat, OCS Central Mr Talam, and all other officers who were involved in the arrest, booking and detention of Albert.
PRWG-K further demands that the National Police Service reveal the circumstances leading to the arrest and transportation of Albert over 350 kilometres to Nairobi’s Central Police Station, despite statutory requirements providing that all offences be tried in the nearest court unless transferred to a different jurisdiction by a court order.[2] The National Police Service must account for Albert’s whereabouts for the entire period preceding his booking into the Central Police Station.
We note that the Inspector General of Police failed to name the officers who were in charge of Central Police Station when Albert Ojwang was killed, despite stating that they have since been interdicted. We demand that the National Police Service make known the chain of custody for the deceased from the time he was arrested to the time when he was booked in at Central Police station.
We reiterate that Police stations are places of protected custody and Police officers are required to keep suspects safe, free from torture, inhumane treatment, as these are protections envisaged in Article 244 of the Constitution of Kenya. The National Police Service must promptly investigate Albert’s death to restore public trust.
The National Police Service Commission must confront the ugly reality of widespread arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and deaths at the hands of police officers.
We call upon IPOA and KNCHR to lead the investigations and ensure that they extend beyond interdictions and suspensions, and that those found culpable are arrested and tried before a court of law. Without independent and external investigation, these practices continue to pose a threat to Kenyan lives, the rule of law, national security, and the public interest.
