DIG Lagat finally steps aside as activists insist on ‘shutdown’

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AVDelta News | Nairobi, June 16, 2025

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Eliud Lagat has finally stepped aside, ending weeks of public pressure and mounting calls for accountability over the death of blogger Albert Ojwang.

In a letter released on Monday morning from Police Headquarters, Lagat said he had opted to temporarily vacate office pending investigations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).

While stopping short of resigning, he expressed willingness to support the process and extended condolences to Ojwang’s family.

His move, though welcomed by some, has done little to quell the outrage sweeping across the country. Many Kenyans say stepping aside is not enough, and have taken to social media under the hashtags #ResignLagat and #JusticeForOjwang to demand his full resignation.

The storm around Lagat’s role in the saga has also drawn attention to wider issues in the police service. 

Earlier today (Monday), Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen addressed a press briefing outside Harambee House, where he outlined sweeping reforms aimed at improving transparency and accountability in the National Police Service.

He announced that all 1,209 police stations in the country will be required to operate fully functional CCTV systems within the next two(2) years.

According to Mr Murkomen, it will now be mandatory for stations to have continuous surveillance, managed by the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), with external backups in place. Any faults must be reported within one(1) hour.

He described the changes as part of a wider modernisation drive, saying it was time the police embraced systems that protect both officers and civilians.

Even as the government moves to address the crisis, the streets are far from calm. Activists, youth groups, and civil society organisations have announced a nationwide shutdown planned for Tuesday.

The protest, they say, is aimed at demanding justice for Ojwang and an end to police impunity.

Read: Teachers light candles in honour of fallen blogger Albert Ojwang

The planned demonstrations mirror the June 2024 street protests and come amid growing scepticism about whether reforms alone can deliver justice.

Critics argue that real accountability will only come if those implicated in wrongdoing are held responsible, regardless of rank.

With tensions rising and pressure mounting, all eyes are now on IPOA to complete its investigations and make its findings public.

Lagat, for now, remains out of office.