The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) Wednesday summoned Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police Eliud Lagat for statement recording in connection with the murder of teacher Albert Ojwang.
Ojwang was killed on June 7 while in custody at the Central Police Station in Nairobi.
Sources said Lagat was willing to record his statement on Wednesday but the exercise was pushed to Thursday.
IPOA chairman Isaak Hassan Hassan said they want to hear the side of Lagat.
“Further, having found basis, IPOA has issued summons to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eliud Lagat to appear before the Authority’s investigations team to record a statement.”
“The Authority made a miscellaneous application to mobile service providers to supply it with mobile phone data for persons of interest, to help in the investigations into the murder of Mr. Ojwang’,” he said.
Further, the seized DVR footage from Central Police Station and biological samples supplied to the Government Chemist are currently under analysis.
He said that as of Wednesday June 18 a total of 20 police officers including the Central Police Station Deputy OCS, inspector Samuel Ng’ang’a have recorded statements with IPOA, with two of them including OCS Samson Talaam, and constable James Mukhwana having been arraigned.
Ng’ang’a was arrested Tuesday and produced at the Kahawa West Law Courts before being detained at Muthaiga Police Station.
Similarly, he said, civilians Kelvin Mutisya Mutava who allegedly interfered with the CCTV footage and three others namely; Brian Mwaniki Njue, Collins Karani, and Gin Ammitou, who were inmates at the Central Police Station on the material day, were presented in various courts. They are detained for 14 days pending an investigation.
To expedite the investigations IPOA has been working collaboratively with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) and IPOA is confident that by early next week, the investigation file with a recommendation to charge various suspects will be ready.
“The Authority appeals for calm and assures Kenyans that in the quest for justice in this matter,there will be no sacred cows. Anyone found culpable will be prosecuted.”
The planned grilling of Lagat will mark the first time a senior police officer is being investigated by the authority since its formation.
Lagat has met his lawyer for consultations on the way forward and given some of the cases which have been filed in courts.
Lagat is the one who had complained to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations on June 4 about posts that had been made on X on his reputation prompting the investigations.
Ojwang was picked from his Homabay home and brought to Nairobi where he was killed while in cells.
The incident has sparked fury prompting protests calling for action.
Lagat Monday stepped aside following pressure over the death of Ojwang pending investigations.
He said he was sorry for the death of Ojwang.
“In the good and conscious thought of my role and responsibilities as The Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police Service, and in view of the ongoing investigations on the unfortunate incident of the death of Mr.
Albert Ojwang, I have today opted to step aside from the office of the Deputy Inspector General – Kenya Police Service pending completion of investigations.”
“The functions of the office will henceforth be perfomed by my deputy until completion of the investigations.”
“I undertake to provide any support that may be required of me during the investigations of the unfortunate incident. I offer immense condolences to the family of Mr. Albert Ojwang for their great loss,” he said in a statement.
This was after he had met president William Ruto to asked him to step aside to allow the ongoing probe.
Inspector General (IG) Douglas Kanja told Senators on June 11 that the probe started when online posts claimed Lagat was involved in corruption within the National Police Service (NPS).
Kanja said the process began on June 4, 2025, when Langat filed a formal complaint with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The complaint concerned a series of posts on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) accusing Langat of corrupt activities within the National Police Service.
According to one post, Langat strategically placed loyal officers in charge of key departments such as the DCI desks, Occurrence Book (OB), and traffic units to control the flow of revenue and intelligence.
“The post claimed that he was involved in corruption within the NPS. Specifically, the published information alleged that Lagat has strategically placed his most trusted officers in charge of the DCI books desk and traffic shifts in order to control both revenue streams and intelligence flow,” Kanja said.
In another post, Langat was pictured with an officer named Chirchir and alleged to have purchased a $2.6 million property in Dubai.
The post also stated that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) was investigating Langat.
“EACC investigating top cop after purchase of $2.6 million home in Dubai, accompanied by Lagat’s image and the headline “Eliud Lagat mafia police”.
The case was filed under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act, and a team of five officers was assigned to investigate.
On the same day, Senior Superintendent Hillary Mutai, who heads the Serious Crimes Unit, recorded Langat’s statement at Vigilance House.
The investigators also wrote to the EACC to verify the claims made in the social media posts and reached out to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) to request registration details and preservation of content from the X account in question.
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