- DIG Eliud Lagat asks the court to throw out removal case
- He insists he only took leave, never stepped aside
- Says there’s no evidence connecting him to Ojwang’s death
- Maintains that no disciplinary action has been taken against him
- A viral letter suggests he had stepped aside, but he calls it misleading
Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat is now urging the court to drop proceedings seeking his removal from office. Lagat says the entire case has no foundation, claiming that no proof links him to the death of Albert Ojwang.
He also clarified that he did not step aside from office as widely claimed, but simply went on an 18-day leave to give room for investigations.
While responding before the court, Lagat strongly defended his position. He said he never officially stepped aside and called claims to the contrary misleading. According to him, the break he took was voluntary and aimed at allowing an impartial probe into Ojwang’s death.
Despite this, a viral letter allegedly signed by the Inspector General of Police suggested that Lagat had stepped aside, something the DIG now disputes.
Lagat further told the court that after all investigations, no disciplinary action had been taken against him by the National Police Service. He argued that if he were guilty or involved, action would already have been taken. For that reason, he believes the push to remove him is unjustified and should be stopped.
Albert Ojwang died shortly after being arrested and transported to Nairobi, where he was reportedly beaten to death with DIG Lagat as the one who issued the order for Ojwang’s arrest.
Though questions have been raised about that move, Lagat insists he was simply acting within his duty and that he cannot be held responsible for what happened afterwards.
