Revealed: DIG Eliud Lagat Did Not Follow DCI Protocol on Complaint Against Ojwang

Senior police officer bypassed standard procedures in case that led to teacher’s death at Central Police Station

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Eliud Lagat failed to follow established police protocols when pursuing a complaint against Albert Ojwang, the teacher who died in police custody at Nairobi’s Central Police Station, investigations have revealed.

Despite claims by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Amin Mohammed that Lagat had filed his complaint “just like any other citizen,” no formal record of such a complaint exists in any police station’s Occurrence Book (OB), according to sources within both the police service and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa).

The revelation emerged as Lagat stepped aside from office on Monday to allow Ipoa investigations into Ojwang’s death to proceed unimpeded. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had earlier emphasized that all complaints, regardless of the complainant’s rank, must be channeled through proper police station procedures.

“Anyone who wishes to file a complaint, whether a political leader or a senior police officer, should do so at a police station,” Murkomen stated during a press briefing at Harambee House.

However, an Ipoa official, speaking anonymously due to authorization restrictions, confirmed that investigators have found no OB entry documenting Lagat’s concerns about Ojwang’s alleged social media posts. “So far, we have not seen any OB entry where Mr Lagat raised his concerns,” the official disclosed.

The procedural breach raises serious questions about how the case against Ojwang was initiated. A DCI officer familiar with the investigation revealed that detectives who arrested Ojwang at his Homa Bay home were acting on direct orders from DCI boss Amin Mohammed, rather than following up on a formal complaint.

Ojwang, a teacher by profession, had been accused of operating a social media account on X (formerly Twitter) that published content about the Deputy Inspector-General. The circumstances of his death while in police custody have sparked public outrage and calls for accountability within the police service.

When pressed by journalists to provide the OB number and police station where Lagat’s complaint was allegedly filed, Murkomen deflected, citing the ongoing Ipoa investigation and court proceedings.

Lagat’s decision to step aside comes after public protests last Thursday that turned violent, with demonstrators vowing to return to the streets. The Deputy Inspector-General, who had been considered a frontrunner to succeed Inspector-General Douglas Kanja, said he was willing to provide any necessary support during the investigation.

“I have today opted to step aside from the office of the Deputy Inspector-General – Kenya Police Service pending completion of investigations,” Lagat stated, adding that his deputy would assume his functions until investigations conclude.

The case has prompted broader discussions about police accountability and procedure. As part of reforms announced by Murkomen, all 1,209 police stations nationwide will be equipped with CCTV surveillance within two years, with legislation proposed to criminalize tampering with such systems.

The government also plans to digitize Occurrence Books to make case reporting more traceable and tamper-proof, while establishing continuous professional development training for all officers.

Ojwang’s death has become a symbol of concerns about police conduct and accountability, with his family and civil society organizations demanding justice. The case continues to unfold as Ipoa investigators work to establish the full circumstances surrounding his death and the procedures that led to his arrest.