A confidential letter from Inspector General Douglas Kanja has ignited a firestorm around Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat, casting doubt on his claims of stepping aside for a murder investigation.
The contents of the letter sharply contradict Lagat’s June 16 public announcement that he had temporarily relinquished his duties to allow impartial investigations into the death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody. Instead of stepping down, Lagat quietly applied for an 18-day annual leave, with the IG approving it that very day.
Court records now confirm that Kanja's letter authorised Lagat’s leave starting June 17, designating his assistant as acting DIG and wishing Lagat a “restful break.” Yet in a sworn affidavit, Lagat denies handing over his duties or vacating his office, deepening suspicion over his true intentions.
The contradiction has triggered an outcry from civil society groups, who accuse Lagat of misleading the public to evade accountability. Eliud Karanja Matindi, a prominent human rights advocate, has demanded that Lagat either resign or be prosecuted
Ojwang died in mysterious circumstances shortly after his arrest at Central Police Station, following a defamation complaint filed by Lagat. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is still probing the matter and has yet to clear Lagat of wrongdoing.
President Ruto’s administration has remained silent, even as calls grow louder for top police leadership to be held accountable. Parliamentary insiders hint that pressure is mounting for a special inquiry into Lagat’s conduct and its potential role in obstructing justice.
Whether the leave was a strategic cover or a procedural misstep remains unanswered—but the fallout is far from over.
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