Kenyan human rights defenders are intensifying calls for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat following the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody.
Civil society groups, lawyers, and even former Chief Justice David Maraga are demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of Lagat, who has been linked to the incident.
“The stepping aside of Eliud Lagat is a first step. Next, we demand resignation, arrest, and prosecution.”, he stated
Maraga has even threatened to initiate private prosecutions if no action is taken by June 30.
The CEO of human rights group VOCAL Africa, Hussein Khalid, decsribed Ojwang’s death as “torture and murder inside a police cell”, emphasizing that if Kenya truly respects the rule of law, Lagat must face it in court.
“Stepping aside is not justice. It’s not accountability. Eliud Lagat must be arrested and charged with murder… What we saw was torture and murder inside a police cell. If this country respects the rule of law, Lagat must face it in court.” said Khalid
Ojwang was arrested on Friday, June 7, 2025, at his home in Homa Bay County by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). The arrest followed a formal complaint filed by Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat on June 4, alleging that Ojwang had posted false information about him on social media.
From there, Ojwang was transferred to Nairobi Central Police Station on the evening of Friday, June 7, 2025. According to the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), he was booked out of Mawego Police Station at 4:00 PM and booked into Central Police Station at 9:32 PM that same night.
He was pronounced dead on Sunday, June 8, 2025, shortly after being found unconscious in his cell at Nairobi Central Police Station. According to reports, officers discovered him during a routine inspection at 3:45 a.m., and he was rushed to Mbagathi Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Police initially claimed he may have committed suicide, but a post-mortem revealed blunt force trauma and signs of assault, contradicting the official narrative.
Lagat has since “stepped aside” to allow investigations, but critics—including human rights groups and legal experts—say that’s not enough. They argue that stepping aside is a hollow gesture and are calling for his resignation, arrest, and prosecution.
Lagat is linked to the murder probe Ojwang primarily because he was the original complainant who triggered Ojwang’s arrest after filling a formal complaint on June 4, 2025, accusing Ojwang of defaming him online.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission and other watchdogs are urging the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to act swiftly, warning that public trust in law enforcement is eroding fast.
