Albert Ojwang’ murder: Why latest developments put DIG Lagat in hot spot
Fresh testimony in the murder trial of blogger Albert Ojwang’ has renewed scrutiny of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat.
Ojwang died at Nairobi Central Police Station on June 8, 2025. His detention followed a complaint lodged by Lagat over social media posts.
The latest testimony centres on Ojwang’s final hours and the deletion of crucial CCTV footage.
Lagat has not been charged in the murder case. He has denied involvement in Ojwang’s death.
The late blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang during a past event.
Lagat’s complaint triggered arrest
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja told the Senate that Lagat lodged a formal complaint on June 4, 2025.
The complaint concerned posts accusing Lagat of corruption and influencing strategic police deployments.
One post said Lagat had placed trusted officers at Directorate of Criminal Investigations desks, Occurrence Book offices and traffic departments.
Another displayed Lagat’s photograph with senior police officer Joseph Chirchir. Its caption read: “EACC investigating top cop after purchase of US$2.6 million home in Dubai.”
The post also described Lagat as “Mafia Police.”
Kanja told senators that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission denied investigating Lagat. Police then sought information from the Communications Authority of Kenya about the X accounts.
Ojwang was apprehended at his family home in Homa Bay on June 7. He was taken to Mawego Police Station before being driven to Nairobi.
He was booked at Central Police Station at about 9.30 pm. He died hours later.
Court hears of planned assault
The Director of Public Prosecutions has told the High Court that Ojwang’s death resulted from a planned assault.
Prosecutors said he was struck with a blunt object and strangled. His post-mortem showed head trauma, neck compression and injuries across his body.
A protected witness told Justice Diana Kavedza that Police Constable Peter Kimani and two unidentified people were captured near the cells.
The witness said they walked towards the last cell. They later emerged carrying what appeared to be a heavy object. The object was not identified.
Another witness testified that the station’s CCTV recorder was formatted after Ojwang’s death. The court heard that the formatting erased footage from the material period. Capital FM reported the testimony.
Police DIG Eliud Lagat salutes during a past event. Photo: NTV Kenya Source: X
Six people are facing murder charges. They are Samson Talaam, James Mukhwana, Peter Kimani, John Ngige Gitau, Gin Ammitou Abwao and Brian Mwaniki Njue. They have pleaded not guilty.
Mukhwana previously told investigators that reference was made to an “order from above” to rough up Ojwang. Reuters reported the statement.
Lagat maintains that he was not at Central Police Station and never issued unlawful instructions. He temporarily stepped aside in June 2025 and recorded a statement with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority.
The renewed court proceedings now return attention to the complaint that set Ojwang’s arrest in motion.