Revealed: President Ruto’s Hand in DIG Lagat’s Shock Exit Amid Ojwang Murder Probe

Kenya’s Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eliud Lagat, has stepped aside following intense public pressure and a closed-door meeting with President William Ruto, as the nation reels from the mysterious death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang while in police custody. 

Though officially presented as a decision driven by conscience, multiple sources, including People Daily, report that President Ruto played a pivotal role in nudging the embattled DIG toward stepping down. According to insiders, Lagat met with the Head of State and other senior government officials, including Inspector General Japhet Koome, just days before his announcement on Monday, June 16. 

While the Interior Ministry had earlier denied any external pressure on Lagat, the President’s involvement behind the scenes paints a different picture. Ruto’s intervention appears to have been aimed at calming public outrage and preserving the integrity of ongoing investigations, as demands for justice continued to mount. 

At the heart of this unfolding saga is the role Lagat himself played in setting off the chain of events that led to Ojwang’s death. On June 4, Lagat lodged a complaint with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Serious Crimes Unit, accusing Ojwang of publishing defamatory posts online. 

On June 7, DCI officers from Nairobi traveled to Homa Bay, arrested Ojwang, and transported him back to the capital, where he was booked at Central Police Station. He died shortly after while in police custody, triggering nationwide fury. 

In his resignation statement, Lagat stated:  

“In the good and conscious thought of my role and responsibilities… I have today opted to step aside… pending completion of investigations.” 

He emphasized that his decision was made “to allow investigations to proceed seamlessly,” and that his deputy would take over his duties in the interim. However, many believe this “voluntary” move was heavily influenced by the political temperature and Ruto’s firm yet discreet directive to protect the image of the police force, and by extension, the government. 

Lagat expressed his willingness to cooperate with investigators and extended his condolences to Ojwang’s family. 

“I undertake to provide any support that may be required of me during the investigations… I offer immense condolences to the family of Ojwang for their great loss.” 

Whether this show of accountability is seen as heartfelt or merely strategic remains to be seen. What is clear is that his stepping aside was no isolated decision, it came after Kenya’s top leadership weighed the political cost of keeping him in office during a highly sensitive investigation. 

Parallel to Lagat’s resignation, attention has turned to Samson Talaam, the interdicted Officer Commanding Central Police Station. Arraigned in the Constitutional and Human Rights Division of the Milimani Law Courts, Talaam denied involvement in Ojwang’s death, claiming he wasn’t at the station when the blogger was detained. 

Yet IPOA insists Talaam should be held for an additional 21 days to prevent tampering with evidence, citing his access to crucial files at the station. A ruling on the detention request is expected on Wednesday, June 18. 

The Ojwang case has become a flashpoint for accountability in Kenya’s security agencies. With President Ruto reportedly intervening to ensure transparency and Lagat temporarily stepping away from his powerful post, all eyes now turn to IPOA and the judiciary. 

The public, civil society, and human rights defenders are watching closely. Will this moment mark a genuine shift toward police accountability, or will it fade into the growing archive of unresolved injustices?