Kimani Ngunjiri cautions Kenyans against blaming Eliud Lagat for Ojwang’s death
By Mabonga Makhanu, June 10, 2025Former Bahati Member of Parliament (MP) Kimani Ngunjiri has warned Kenyans against hastily blaming Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Eliud Lagat for the death of Albert Ojwang.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Ngunjiri urged the public to refrain from accusing Lagat of being complicit in Ojwang’s death, asserting that the DIG was merely a complainant in the matter.
Ngunjiri explained that Lagat had reported Albert Ojwang to the authorities after feeling offended by him.
He emphasised that it was a matter of complaint, not a personal vendetta, and that the DIG had no ill intentions towards Ojwang.
According to Ngunjiri, if Lagat had any motive to harm Ojwang, he could have done so without going through the legal process of reporting him for arrest.
Ngunjiri further pointed out that Lagat, with his position and authority, would not have needed to make a report if he intended to take matters into his own hands.
The former legislator called on Kenyans to exercise patience and allow the authorities to conduct thorough investigations into the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death.
“Lagat alikuwa complainant, DIG, tuichukuwe tusiweke siasa, tusiweke ukabila ndani take. Alireport kwa njia alioweza kureport nayo; huyo kijana achunguzwe.
“Na sifikiri kama alikuwa na motive na ana nguvu ya polisi, alikuwa anapigania haki yake ili kijana ashikwe na achunguzwe,” Ngunjiri said.
He urged the public to avoid politicising the issue, as the investigations were still ongoing, and cautioned against jumping to conclusions regarding Lagat’s involvement.
“Mambo ya kucondemn deputy inspector general, uchunguzi indelee kwanza iangaliwe, was he in the cell? Did he give instructions? To whom did he give instructions? Those are the things Kenyans need to know before condemning, since he did not kill, but he complained,” Ngunjiri added.
Ngunjiri also appealed to the government to expedite the investigations, citing the swift action taken in the case of Kasipul Kabondo MP Charles Were, where suspects were brought to justice in a short period.
He urged that the same urgency be applied to the case of Albert Ojwang to ensure that justice is served promptly.
Albert Ojwang
Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old Kenyan teacher and social media influencer from Homa Bay, died under suspicious circumstances in police custody at Nairobi’s Central Police Station on June 8, 2025.
He was arrested on June 6, 2025, by DCI officers in Homa Bay following a defamation complaint by Lagat over social media posts. After being transferred to Nairobi, he was interrogated and booked on June 7, 2025.
Police claim he was found unconscious during a routine cell check, stating that he had hit his head against a wall.
However, the family’s lawyer reported injuries consistent with torture, including head wounds and bleeding from the nose.
The incident has sparked nationwide outrage, with protests erupting at Nairobi’s City Mortuary on June 9, 2025, demanding justice and the resignation of Eliud Lagat.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) condemned the death, calling it part of a growing pattern of state repression.
Inspector General Douglas Kanja interdicted the officers who were on duty, including the Officer Commanding Station (OCS).
However, the LSK criticised the lack of transparency, particularly the failure to publicly name the implicated officers.