Fresh evidence in the Albert Ojwang murder trial has returned attention to a formal complaint lodged by Deputy Inspector-General of Police Eliud Lagat.
Official records show that Lagat submitted the complaint to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations on June 4, 2025.
The complaint activated the police operation that reached Ojwang’s home area in Homa Bay County three days later.
Ojwang was apprehended and transported to Central Police Station in Nairobi. He died in custody hours later.
Lagat has not been charged in the case and has denied involvement in Ojwang’s death. However, his complaint remains the documented starting point of the police operation.
Complaint activates DCI operation
Lagat complained about posts published on X. The posts accused him of corruption and questioned his wealth.
One post said Lagat had placed trusted officers at strategic police desks to control intelligence and revenue streams.
Another linked him to the purchase of a multimillion-dollar property in Dubai.
According to Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja, the DCI assigned four officers to investigate the posts.
Two investigators visited Vigilance House on June 4 and recorded Lagat’s statement.
The DCI also wrote to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to establish whether Lagat was under investigation.
The commission responded on June 5 and said it was not investigating him.
Investigators separately asked the Communications Authority of Kenya to identify and preserve information linked to the social media accounts.
Information received during the investigation led police to Kelvin Muinde. Officers apprehended him in Kisii County.
Police said information obtained during his questioning led investigators to Ojwang and other individuals. Kanja’s full account is contained in the Senate record.
Operation moves to Homa Bay
On June 7, a five-officer team travelled to Lida Centre in Homa Bay County.
The officers apprehended Ojwang at about 2.30 pm. They took him to Mawego Police Station before beginning the journey to Nairobi.
Ojwang was booked at Central Police Station at about 9.31 pm.
Kanja later told the Senate that Ojwang called his wife after arriving. He reportedly told her that he had arrived safely and was fine.
By the following morning, Ojwang was dead.
An autopsy found that he died from head injuries, neck compression and multiple blunt-force injuries.
Six people, including police officers and civilians, are now facing murder charges. They have pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors told the court that Ojwang’s assault was planned. A protected witness has also testified that he was paid to erase CCTV footage from the police station.
The High Court will determine individual criminal responsibility. However, the documented chain of events remains clear: the operation began with Lagat’s June 4 complaint.
