The Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) demands the immediate suspension of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Eliud Lagat, following the alarming findings of the autopsy report concerning the death of Mr. Albert Ojwang in police custody.
Mr. Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old blogger and teacher, tragically died while under the care and watch of the National Police Service. He had been detained following a complaint by Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat himself, who accused Ojwang of tarnishing his name on social media (X, formerly Twitter) with allegations of corruption. Ojwang was arrested in Homa Bay and subsequently transferred over 350km to Nairobi, where he was booked into the Central Police Station.
The preliminary autopsy report, conducted by a team of five pathologists led by state pathologist Dr. Bernard Midia, has now been made public. It indicates severe head injury, neck compression, and multiple soft tissue trauma spread across the body (including the head, neck, upper limbs, trunk, and lower limbs). Dr. Midia explicitly stated that the injuries were consistent with “external assault” and showed signs of struggle, directly contradicting initial police claims that Mr. Ojwang “sustained head injuries after hitting his head against a cell wall.” Furthermore, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has ruled out self-inflicted injuries and noted that CCTV systems at the Central Police Station had been interfered with.
“The findings of Mr. Albert Ojwang’s autopsy report are not just deeply disturbing; they are an indictment of the systemic failures and alleged brutality within certain segments of our police service,” stated Kennedy Kachwanya, Chairperson, Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE). “The Deputy Inspector General, Mr. Eliud Lagat, as the operational head of the National Police Service and the very complainant in this case, must take full accountability for the actions that occur under his command and the prevailing culture that allows such tragedies to occur. His continued tenure sends a chilling message that accountability for deaths in custody is not a priority.”
The death of Albert Ojwang adds to a distressing pattern of fatalities occurring in police custody, raising serious concerns about human rights, the rule of law, and the professional integrity of the National Police Service.
We therefore demand the following:
- The suspension of the Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat is imperative to pave the way for an impartial investigation and to restore public confidence in the police service’s commitment to accountability, especially given his direct involvement as the complainant.
- An independent and transparent investigation into the death of Albert Ojwang must be launched immediately, with all officers implicated held personally accountable for his death. The interference with CCTV at Central Police Station must also be a central focus of this investigation.
- Measures must be put in place to ensure the safety and protection of all witnesses and those providing information related to Mr. Ojwang’s death.
- The Kenyan Government must expedite comprehensive reforms within the National Police Service to address issues of brutality, lack of accountability, and disregard for human rights. This must include ensuring accountability for past cases of deaths in custody and addressing systemic issues that enable such abuses.
The Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) stands in solidarity with Albert Ojwang’s family and will continue to monitor this situation closely, advocating for justice and accountability.
For media inquiries, please contact: Vallary Lukhanyu – vallary@bake.or.ke