Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat could find himself in legal trouble after he was implicated in the murder of blogger Albert Ojwang.
The case involving Ojwang has seen its fair share of twists since the blogger's death was announced on June 8, with the latest revelations set to cause more ripples within the hierarchy at the Central Police Station, Nairobi, where Ojwang is said to have lost his life.
On Monday, June 16, Police Constable James Mukwana, who was the first individual to be arrested in connection with Ojwang's death, gave a tell-all account of events, with his testimony linking some big names to the death, including DIG Lagat and Central Police Station OCS Samsom Talaam.
According to the constable's chilling account, he was summoned to the office of his boss, OCS Talaam, on June 7 and informed that there was a directive from DIG Lagat that a suspect would arrive at around 8pm. The suspect was supposed to be 'dealt with' as per orders from above.
The constable then asked what would happen if things went wrong and was assured that since he was a junior officers, he would not land in trouble since he was simply following orders.
At around 9pm, a black Subaru bearing Ojwang in handcuffs arrived at the Central Police Station. According to the constable's account to IPOA, the OCS was contacted to confirm the identity of the suspect and verified that Ojwang was indeed the individual who was to be “disciplined.”
Ojwang was then booked as a suspect at around 9;20pm, and what followed, according to the constable, was a brutal torture session by four officers - all of whom are currently in police custody.
The officers, according to Mukhwana, were offered Ksh2,000 each to carry out the torture.
The constable further revealed that moments after booking Ojwang, he heard loud screams coming from Ojwang's cell, and when he went to investigate, he found the suspect in a deplorable state with blood coming from his mouth.
At this point, the constable claims he urged the deputy OCS to rush the suspect to the hospital. It remains unclear whether the plea was delayed or ignored because a few hours later, Ojwang had passed away.
On June 8, the constable in question recounted receiving numerous calls from his colleagues asking him whether he had heard of Ojwang's death. He claimed to have received assurances from the OCS that all was well, only for things to unravel days later.
On June 11, the constable was summoned by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), where he gave a false account of the events as part of an agreed effort among the officers to hide the truth.
However, internal blame began falling on the constable; he claims to have returned to IPOA on June 12 to record a fresh, truthful statement. The constable also admitted to having been consumed by guilt in the days after Ojwang lost his life.
In what was likely a final emotional reflection, the constable claimed that Ojwang was never meant to be killed, only punished.
“Those were the instructions from OCS Talaam, who got directives from DIG Lagat,” he stated. “My apologies to Ojwang’s family. May God be with you," his statement to IPOA said.
Meanwhile, hours before the revelation, DIG Lagat announced he would step aside from his role to allow for adequate investigations into the death.
