The death of high school teacher, blogger and social media influencer Albert Ojwang in police custody continues to prick the conscience of the nation.

It is unthinkable that a young teacher’s promising future was cut short in the most cruel manner at the hands of police officers who have a primary responsibility to protect people’s lives and property.

Ojwang was arrested following a complaint by Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat. The autopsy report revealed that the teacher was tortured and strangled to death.

Speaking before a parliamentary committee yesterday, Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) chairperson Issack Hassan was empathic that Ojwang met his death in a police cell. All the 17 officers involved in handling the Ojwang arrest and detention will be treated as murder suspects, he said. The agency, he added, will summon Lagat to record a statement over Ojwang’s death.

Of concern, however, is that though some officers have been interdicted, Lagat remains in office. This presents a problem – the senior officer remains close to the crime scene by virtue of his position, as he still commands authority and influence in the police service.

He remains a terrifying and intimidating shadow over whatever form the investigations take. The IPOA investigators who are expected to interview the police boss are his juniors. Hassan yesterday warned against any attempts to cover up the crime, but we strongly believe for the probe to succeed and for the Ojwang family to get justice, Lagat must step aside.

That is why we align ourselves with the views of various agencies who have recommended to President William Ruto that both the Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin and Lagat step aside to avert widespread chaos, especially in the city, that may result in property destruction and even loss of lives.

The US Embassy has called on the State and IPOA to ensure swift, transparent and thorough probe.

Former National Police Service Commission chair Johnston Kavuludi also advised that because some of the investigators had worked under Lagat, he ought to have resigned to pave way for clean investigations.