The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has firmly denied claims that it cleared Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat of involvement in the controversial death of blogger Albert Omondi Ojwang.
The statement comes in response to widespread social media posts—including one by prominent blogger Cyprian Nyakundi—suggesting that Lagat had been absolved of any wrongdoing.
“IPOA says that Eliud Lagat has no case to answer?” read Nyakundi’s post, which quickly went viral, sparking backlash and demands for clarity.
In a rebuttal issued on Tuesday evening, IPOA dismissed the claims as false and misleading, stating it had not issued any official communication regarding the exoneration of DIG Lagat.
Lagat’s name entered the spotlight after Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja confirmed that the blogger’s arrest stemmed from a complaint filed by the Deputy IG with the DCI.
Ojwang was later detained at Nairobi Central Police Station, where he allegedly suffered fatal torture while in custody.
The case has led to the arrest and impending prosecution of six suspects, including Nairobi Central OCS Samson Kiprotich Talaam, three other police officers, and two civilians who allegedly shared a cell with the deceased.
IPOA emphasized that its investigations are still ongoing and that no individual, regardless of rank, is above scrutiny. The authority urged the public to rely on official statements rather than online speculation.
Ojwang’s death has ignited public anger and demands for accountability, further intensifying scrutiny of police conduct and oversight mechanisms in Kenya.
