- The petition to stop DIG Eliud Lagat from duty has been officially withdrawn
- Lawyer says Lagat already stepped aside to allow investigations
- The court accepted the withdrawal and set July 10 for further directions
- Case linked to the death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody
- Six officers have been charged over the incident
- Investigations are now being led by IPOA
A High Court application that aimed to block Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat from continuing with his duties has now been withdrawn. This follows recent developments in the ongoing probe into the death of Albert Ojwang, a teacher and blogger who died inside Central Police Station, Nairobi.
Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru, who was representing the petitioner, told the court that there was no longer a need for the application. He explained that DIG Lagat had already stepped aside from his duties on June 16 to allow for an independent investigation into the matter.
With that, Justice Diana Kavedza accepted the request and ruled:
“The application is withdrawn as prayed. We will mention the matter on the 10th for directions on the main petition.”
Lagat’s decision came after growing pressure from opposition leaders, human rights bodies, and the public, who demanded accountability following the controversial death of Ojwang. In his official statement, Lagat said he stepped aside in good conscience to support a fair and transparent investigation.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is handling the investigation. So far, six police officers have already been charged in court. Those facing charges include the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Central Police, Samson Talaam, and Police Constable James Mukwana.
Ojwang’s case continues to attract national attention, with many Kenyans demanding justice and greater police accountability. The main petition remains active and will be mentioned again in court on July 10 as the legal process continues.
