Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat has been summoned by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority IPOA to answer questions relating to the death of blogger Albert Ojwang.
Lagat, who has been profusely mentioned in the case, will have to present himself to IPOA to record a statement as the Authority seeks to zero in on the persons responsible for Ojwang's death.
In a statement on Wednesday, June 18, IPOA Chairperson Issack Hassan confirmed that the investigative agency had found sufficient grounds to summon Lagat.
"Having found a basis, IPOA has issued a summons to the Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat to appear before the authorities' investigations team to record a statement," Hassan said in a statement on Wednesday.
The chairperson also confirmed that since IPOA began investigations into the blogger's death, 20 police officers had recorded statements, including the Deputy OCS at the Central Police Station.
Two of the officers who recorded statements, OCS Chief Inspector Samson Talaam and Police Constable James Mukhwana, have since been arraigned, while the Deputy OCS, who was arrested on June 17, is currently being detained at Muthaiga Police Station.
Lagat's summons came just a day after Constable Mukhwana gave an explosive testimony of his version of events that led to Ojwang's death. In his statement, the constable implicated both Talaam and Lagat in the murder, suggesting orders to 'discipline' the blogger came from the DIG.
Long before the investigations heated up, Lagat came forward to admit he was the one who filed the complaint against Ojwang, which led to the blogger's arrest on June 6.
In his statement, the IPOA chairperson also confirmed that four civilians have been arraigned, including the individual who is alleged to have tampered with CCTV footage.
The other three individuals were inmates at the Central Police Station around the same day Ojwang lost his life.
Further, IPOA has filed miscellaneous applications to have suspects stay in detention for an extended period to allow for further investigations. Hassan revealed in his statement that an application was also made to mobile service providers for phone data belonging to several persons of interest.
As far as investigations are concerned, the IPOA chair also revealed on Wednesday that DVR footage from Central Police Station, alongside biological samples, has been submitted to the government chemist for forensic analysis.
Recommendations to charge various suspects are expected to be tabled within the next week, as that is when IPOA expects to have concluded investigations in collaboration with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
