Tag: IG Kanja

Inspector General Douglas Kanja maintains his deputy will only step aside if directly implicated in ongoing IPOA investigations into Albert Ojwang’s controversial death in police custody

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has firmly defended his decision to keep Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat in office, despite mounting public pressure and street protests demanding his resignation following the controversial death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody.

Speaking before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security on Thursday, Kanja explained that Lagat would only be required to step aside if his name appears directly in the ongoing Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) investigations.

The IG’s Position

“In these investigations, every person whose name will be mentioned to have played any role that led to the death of the late Albert Ojwang must record his statement.

He must show his side,” Kanja stated during the parliamentary session.

The police chief emphasized that the decision would be contingent on the investigation’s findings: “It is on that basis, I believe, if the DIG is going to be mentioned, then definitely he will write the statements… I believe it is on that basis that now he can be able to step aside to allow for the completion of that investigation.”

The crisis began when Albert Ojwang, a teacher and social media influencer from Homa Bay County, was arrested on June 7, 2025, following a formal complaint filed by DIG Lagat on June 4.

The complaint centered on allegations that Ojwang had posted defamatory content about the deputy police chief on social media platforms.

Ojwang died while in custody at Nairobi’s Central Police Station under circumstances that have sparked national outrage.

Initial police reports claiming he had “hit his head on a wall” were later retracted, with Kanja issuing a public apology for the misleading information.

“I’m very sorry for that information that was provided to the people. I still remain sorry, and the National Police Service remain sorry for that. That is our position,” Kanja told the committee.

Protests Escalate Across Nairobi

The explanation comes as hundreds of youth stormed Nairobi’s central business district on Thursday, demanding Lagat’s immediate resignation.

The protests, which threatened to disrupt major operations in the CBD, occurred as Kenyans awaited the reading of the 2025/2026 Budget by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi.

Police responded to the demonstrations by lobbing tear gas canisters at protesters who were chanting “Resign, Lagat!” and demanding justice for Ojwang.

The protests represent the latest manifestation of public anger over what many perceive as police brutality and impunity.

IPOA Investigation Underway

IPOA has taken the lead in investigating Ojwang’s death, with preliminary findings already ruling out suicide as the cause. IPOA Vice Chair Anne Wanjiku confirmed that “the autopsy report and our preliminary investigation rule out the theory of suicide.”

The oversight body has conducted forensic scene visits, collected blood samples, retrieved police records, and secured CCTV equipment for analysis.

However, investigations have been complicated by revelations that CCTV footage at the Central Police Station was deliberately erased after Ojwang’s death.

Kanja confirmed that “the power of one of the CCTVs had actually been unplugged,” though he expressed optimism that experts could recover information from the hard drive.

The controversy has attracted significant political attention, with Opposition leaders issuing a 24-hour ultimatum for the government to arrest DIG Lagat.

ODM leaders have joined calls for his resignation, while some government allies have defended him.

Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa dismissed calls for Lagat’s resignation, arguing that “the blame lies with officers on duty and the OCS at Central Police Station” rather than the deputy inspector general.

The blogger’s body remains at Nairobi Funeral Home as his family and supporters continue to demand justice, while the nation grapples with questions about the balance between law enforcement authority and citizen rights in the digital age.

Inspector General Douglas Kanja testifies before Senate on social media posts that led to blogger’s fatal arrest

NAIROBI – Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja on Wednesday revealed explosive details about the social media posts that led to the arrest of teacher-blogger Albert Ojwang, whose subsequent death in police custody has sparked national outrage and calls for accountability.

Appearing before the Senate alongside Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Kanja disclosed that Ojwang had published posts on X (formerly Twitter) accusing Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat of corruption and irregular deployments within the National Police Service.

The Controversial Posts

According to Kanja’s testimony, Ojwang’s posts made serious allegations against the Deputy IG, claiming that Lagat had “strategically placed his most trusted officers in charge of DCI desks, occurrence books, and traffic shifts to control revenue streams and intelligence flow.”

The posts, shared through an X account with 13,400 followers, went further to link Lagat to suspected corruption involving high-value property acquisitions.

One post specifically depicted Lagat alongside Nairobi Area Commander Joseph Chirchir under the caption “EACC investigating top cop after purchase of Ksh335.9 million home in Dubai,” accompanied by Lagat’s photograph and the phrase “Eliud Lagat Mafia police.”

“These claims were found to be defamatory and unsubstantiated and of significant public concern, thereby necessitating immediate investigations under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act of 2018,” Kanja told the senators.

The IG revealed that Deputy Inspector General Lagat filed a formal complaint after the posts were published, prompting the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to assign cybercrime officers to investigate the matter.

The investigation team comprised Corporal Abdul Hamman Hussein, Police Constable Dennis Kanyoni, Samuel Kamau, and Milton Mwanzi.

In a bid to verify the corruption allegations, investigating officers wrote to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to confirm whether any investigations were underway against Lagat.

After EACC confirmed that the Deputy IG was not under investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for Ojwang.

The Communications Authority of Kenya was also contacted to provide registration details and preserve posts associated with the X accounts in question, which were confirmed to be linked to the suspects.

Ojwang was subsequently arrested and detained at Central Police Station in Nairobi, where he died in custody.

Initial police reports claimed he had injured himself by hitting his head against a wall, but an autopsy conducted on Tuesday contradicted this narrative.

Pathologist Bernard Midia revealed that Ojwang had suffered multiple injuries across his body, including spaced bleeding on his scalp, face, sides of the head, and back of the head, as well as injuries to his upper limbs and trunk.

The pattern of injuries was inconsistent with self-inflicted harm.

“When we tie up together with other injuries that are well spread on parts of the body… Then this is unlikely to be a self-inflicted injury,” Midia explained.

The case has drawn intense scrutiny from lawmakers and the public, with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) revealing that CCTV cameras at Central Police Station had been interfered with. IPOA has also ruled out suicide as the cause of Ojwang’s death.

Migori Senator Eddy Oketch pressed Kanja during the session, questioning the initial claim that Ojwang had hit his head on a wall.

“The IG informed the nation that Ojwang hit his head on a wall. The country needs to know where he got that information. And now that the autopsy has contradicted that claim, what has the CS done?”

The National Assembly has issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding answers about Ojwang’s death, while Kenyans have united in grief, making M-Pesa donations to support the deceased’s father and demanding justice.

The case has raised serious questions about police accountability and the use of cybercrime laws to silence critics.

Ojwang’s death has become a rallying point for those calling for police reforms and justice for victims of extrajudicial killings.

Interior CS Murkomen has promised that there will be no cover-up in the investigation, stating that “justice will be served” for Ojwang’s family.

However, public trust in the police remains shaken as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the blogger’s death.