Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga speaking at the Senate on June 11, 2025 / Screengrab
Siaya Senator Odinga has said that Deputy Inspector General
Eliud Lagat’s role in Albert Ojwang’s death while in police custody.
Lagat—a top cop and an influential figure in President
William Ruto’s administration—was the complainant in the case, where Ojwang
was accused of false publication.
Weighing in on the
matter, Senator Oburu said politicians are defamed every day, and it is not a
crime but makes them more famous.
He questioned Lagat’s presence at the police press briefing, saying he as a complainant, he ought to be investigated.
“His role must be investigated in this matter; Ojwang was a very
small person at Central Police Station,” Oburu said.
DIG Lagat is under siege as the public is baying for his
blood while the political elite are united in calling for his sacking.
Leaders are now calling on Lagat to resign.
“Eliud Lagat, the DIG and complainant in the allegations
that caused the arrest of Albert Ojwang’, should be suspended pending
investigations,”
PLP leader Martha Karua said.
Former Law Society of Kenya president Nelson Havi also
placed the blame on the doorstep of the DIG, demanding he take responsibility
for the death of the blogger.
Four activists have taken legal action to compel the court
to order the prosecution of Lagat.
In the petition filed on Wednesday, the activists argued
that while some officers from Central Police Station have been interdicted by
Inspector General Douglas Kanja, the senior commanders who allegedly gave the
orders remain in office and are still overseeing the investigation.
They described as “baffling” the stark contradictions
between the police’s version of events, which claimed Ojwang sustained head
injuries in custody, and the autopsy report, which points to other serious
injuries.
“This matter is so grave that it does not just call for
internal disciplinary action but also demands criminal prosecution,” the
petition reads.