Calls for DIG Eliud Lagat's resignation grow louder

Deputy Inspector General of Police (KPS) Eliud Lagat. /FILE

A section of the political class is calling for the resignation of Deputy Director General of Police Eliud Lagat following the death of blogger and Homa Bay teacher Albert Ojwang', who died in custody.

Ojwang was picked up from his home on Saturday in Homa Bay, driven some 400km to Nairobi and locked up at the Central police station, where he was found unconscious Sunday morning.

Initially, police said he succumbed to self-inflicted injuries sustained by hitting his head on a wall in his cell, but an official postmortem examination ruled out the narrative.

Police have since conceded that the death was suspicious and vowed to cooperate with the investigating officers.

Already, five police officers at the Central police station, including the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), have been interdicted to pave the way for impartial investigations.

But the political class is baying for Lagat's blood, insisting that the investigations can reasonably not be impartial when he is still in office.

"The investigations of the cold-blooded murder of Albert Ojwang in police custody cannot possibly and logically proceed when the “Complainant“ of the initial alleged offense is holding high office . It is an abomination and a mockery of justice and fairness," said Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr on X.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale termed the death of an accused person in police custody as worse than the infamous Moi-era detention without trial.

He dismissed the initial police narrative that Ojwang possibly committed suicide, terming it impunity, drawing parallels with when former Foreign Affairs Minister Robert Ouko and Nyandarua MP Josiah Kariuki were found murdered.

Khalwale said, as with Ojwang, the government initially said Ouko had committed suicide even though his charred body found near Got Alila Hill indicated his remains had been set on fire.

"I'm asking that this matter be escalated to a level whereby we must bring fear into government for government to respect human life," the senator said.

"It's not enough to ask that the Deputy Inspector General resigns. We want Eliud Lagat to be arrested so that he can write a statement from a police station for it to be clear to him that he has a responsibility."

Khalwale said the five interdicted police officers would equally be arrested, calling on Parliament to mount pressure for that to be achieved.

"That boy is not different from our own children...it is too much, and the thing must escalate."

ODM deputy party leader and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi also added his voice to calls for Lagat to step down, saying his party will sever ties with the ruling UDA if "proper answers" are not provided regarding Ojwang's death.

"The postmortem that has been done so far indicates that this young man died of neck compression, and those injuries were inflicted through torture, so we require to get proper answers from the police," he said.

"Instead of terminating the services of junior police officers, we want to see senior police officers— the Deputy Director General and even the Director General—resign or be fired by the President."

Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo termed Ojwang's death as a huge shame, saying, "If I were President, I would have already fired people in that office. Lagat should not have stayed in that office any minute longer."

He said Parliament will not allow a cover-up in the ongoing investigations.

"They said he hit his head on the wall. Was he playing football?" he posed. "A wall is not a ball; a wall is a wall."

Senator Ali Roba of Mandera said it's inconceivable that police tried to push the suicide narrative, saying the interdiction of officers over the death is nothing short of a PR exercise.

He echoed Khalwale's sentiments for Parliament to pressurise investigative agencies to conduct impartial investigations, saying those behind the death should be held personally liable.

"You cannot do what you have done in a government of democracy." No cover-up must be allowed, justice must be served, justice delivered, and the nation is waiting," Roba said.

News that Ojwang was strangled drew outrage from civil society activists who marched to Lagat's office in Upper Hill, Nairobi, demanding his resignation.

 A separate group that camped at the Central police station was reportedly dispersed with teargas. 

Kitui Senator Enock Wambua said Ojwang's death can easily throw the country into anarchy.

"Remember what happened in Tunisia when Mohammed Bouaziz blew himself up outside Parliament. Just an act of one person brought about the Arab Spring in an entire region. I call upon the President, he must act with courage and determination on this matter. Heads must roll, he must reset the security apparatus in this country."

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei equally condemned Ojwang's killing, and called for personal responsibility of senior officers in the national security organ.

"The only place you must be safe is a police station. I want to agree with my colleagues—heads must roll...the Minister of Interior should resign and take personal political responsibility on this matter."

Cherargei said a judicial inquiry or inquest should also be formed to resolve all unexplained deaths in the country, including the recent murders of Catholic priests.

"It cannot be that as a Senate we are just sitting and allowing insecurity to thrive in this country."