NAIROBI —Kenya’s Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eliud Lagat, is under intense public pressure to resign following the death of a young digital blogger who died while in police custody.
Albert Ojwang, 28, had reportedly posted material critical of Lagat days before his arrest. Three days later, on 8 June, he was dead.
An autopsy released Tuesday left no room for doubt: Ojwang had been tortured and strangled. That finding sharply contradicted the police’s earlier claim that he had taken his own life.
The backlash was immediate. Human rights activists, opposition leaders, and members of the public have demanded action some calling for criminal prosecution.
“Enough is enough,” said Maina Kiai, a veteran human rights advocate, in an interview. “This is not just about one officer. It is about a system that allows these abuses to continue without consequences.”
A Death Shrouded in Silence
Ojwang’s final hours remain unclear. What is known is that he was arrested by officers reportedly acting on the direct orders of DIG Lagat. His alleged offence? Publishing social media content critical of the senior officer.
Critics argue that even if the posts were defamatory, there was no legal basis for a criminal arrest. Kenya’s High Court struck down criminal defamation laws in 2017, making such disputes civil matters.
“Mr Lagat appears to have abused state power for a personal vendetta,” said James Orengo, a senior counsel and former senator. “This is a clear overreach and it’s deadly.”
No officers have been arrested in connection with the killing. The police have issued only a brief statement promising a swift investigation. The silence from top government officials has added to public anger.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has not commented. President William Ruto, known for his strong social media presence, has remained quiet.
A System Under Scrutiny
Many see the case as a test of Kenya’s willingness to hold its own security forces accountable.
The National Police Service (NPS) has been accused in the past of slow or inadequate responses in similar cases. Yet, it moved quickly just weeks ago to apprehend suspects in the killing of former MP Ongondo Were. That contrast has not gone unnoticed.
“This selective justice is the real issue,” said Daisy Achieng, a spokesperson for the Kenya Human Rights Commission. “When the victim is powerful, the wheels of justice move fast. When it’s an ordinary citizen, the system drags or disappears altogether.”
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) confirmed it had launched a probe. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has also stepped in, asking IPOA to fast-track its investigation.
“The ODPP remains committed to its constitutional mandate in the administration of justice,” the agency said in a statement released Tuesday.
But activists are sceptical. Many remember similar promises after previous incidents of police abuse with little to show for them.
A Family Grieves, a Country Waits
Ojwang’s family has demanded answers and justice.
Speaking outside City Mortuary, his sister, Beatrice Ojwang, told reporters: “My brother was taken from us because he spoke his mind. Is that now a crime in Kenya?”
She added: “We are not afraid. We want those who did this to face the law, no matter who they are.”
As outrage builds, the central question remains: will Kenya confront the problem of police impunity or protect it once again?
For now, all eyes are on Eliud Lagat. And the calls for his resignation are growing louder by the day.
