Ojwang killing: DIG Lagat steps aside amid probe
By Zadock Angira and Noven Owiti, June 17, 2025Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Eliud Kipkoech Lagat has stepped aside from his role following national outrage over the death of high school teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, who was killed while in police custody after being arrested for alleged defamatory social media posts.
In a statement on June 16, 2025. Lagat announced his decision: “I have today opted to step aside from the office of the Deputy Inspector General – Kenya Police Service pending completion of investigations. The functions of the office will henceforth be performed by my deputy until the investigations are concluded.”
The move came after Lagat met with President William Ruto, who directed him to step aside to allow the ongoing probe to proceed unimpeded.
The teacher-blogger’s brutal murder has sparked widespread calls for Lagat’s removal as investigations continue.
Inspector General Douglas Kanja told senators on June 11, 2025, that the fatal chain of events began on June 4, 2025, when Lagat filed a complaint with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) regarding what he called defamatory social media posts.
The posts on X accused Lagat of corruption in the National Police Service.
“The published information alleged that Lagat has strategically placed his most trusted officers in charge of the DCI books desk and traffic shifts in order to control both revenue streams and intelligence flow,” Kanja explained.
Another post featured Lagat with an officer named Chirchir, alleging he had purchased a $2.6 million property in Dubai.
The post falsely claimed the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) was investigating Lagat, with headlines reading “EACC investigating top cop after purchase of $2.6 million home in Dubai” and “Eliud Lagat mafia police.”
Investigation and arrests
The case proceeded rapidly under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act.
On the same day as Lagat’s complaint, Senior Superintendent Hillary Mutai recorded his statement at Vigilance House while investigators contacted both the EACC and the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) to verify the claims.
CAK confirmed the X account was active with about 13,400 followers, while the EACC clarified that Lagat was not under investigation.
Despite investigators concluding the allegations lacked factual basis, CAK linked the posts to specific individuals, including Ojwang.
On June 5, 2025, investigators arrested Kelvin Moinde at his residence, transferring him to DCI headquarters in Nairobi.
During interrogation, Moinde allegedly disclosed accomplices’ names, including Ojwang’, Dorcas Mawia, Douglas Marigiri, and Peter Mbugua, along with their X account handles.
The investigation took a tragic turn on June 6, 2025, when Ojwang died in custody at Central Police Station in Nairobi. Preliminary investigations revealed that station commander Chief Inspector Samson Talam was in communication with DIG Lagat before and after the killing.
Talam reportedly attempted to explain the incident to Ministry of Interior officials, who declined to meet him.
Sources indicate Lagat was particularly interested in identifying who was leaking information to bloggers.
Officers at Central Police Station, apparently seeking to please the DIG, allegedly used torture during interrogation to extract this information. The torture session turned fatal when Ojwang sustained serious injuries.
Legal action reports
Notably, the probe has found no involvement by DCI detectives who initially arrested the teacher in Homa Bay County.
Internal Affairs Unit detectives have visited both Ojwang’s rural home and Mawego Police Station as part of their investigation.
Ojwang’s family has dismissed reports linking them to court petitions seeking Lagat’s removal.
Family spokesman Kenneth Ouma clarified they have not filed any court case regarding their son’s death, though they may consider legal action after the murder investigation concludes.
“Civil societies and politicians are mourning with us because the death has attracted the attention of many people. But we are not part of any group,” Ouma said.
He noted they have notified the magistrate handling the case that they are not part of any existing litigation.
Political condemnation
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara visited the family Monday to offer condolences.
Governor Wanga condemned the officers involved, stating they “decided to take matters into their own hands instead of protecting him”.
Wanga demanded swift justice: “Everyone who was involved in the murder should face the law. Justice must be expedited in the case because justice delayed is justice denied.”
Obara questioned why Ojwang wasn’t taken to court within Homa Bay and announced she had presented the case in Parliament.
However, she also cautioned against reckless social media use: “We also face criticism on social media as politicians but we never react. Youths should also be careful not to write derogatory statements on social media against other people.”