Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat never officially stepped aside from his position, contrary to earlier statements by Inspector General Japhet Koome and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
Today Court records now confirm that Lagat was on an 18-day leave, duly approved by IG Kanja, during a period when the public had been led to believe he had temporarily exited office over a high-profile investigation.
DIG Lagat had been under intense pressure to resign following allegations of command failure and police brutality as well as his hands in the murder of Blogger Albert Ojwang.
Ojwang died in Police custody that sparked national protests resulting to other deaths.
His alleged role in the handling of the operation had sparked a national outcry and prompted IPOA and other officials to assure Kenyans that Lagat had been relieved of duty pending investigations.
But the new revelations from court filings suggest otherwise:
“The officer was on sanctioned leave as per internal administrative records. No official stepping aside occurred,” the records indicate.
This directly contradicts IPOA’s public communication and statements made by IG Kanja, casting serious doubt on the transparency of police leadership.
Critics are now accusing both Kanja and IPOA of deliberate misinformation aimed at cooling public anger while shielding senior officers from accountability.
Human rights activists and opposition leaders are demanding answers:
“If IPOA and the IG misled the nation on such a sensitive issue, what else are they hiding?” one civil society leader asked.
As the revelations spark renewed calls for police reforms and independent oversight, public trust in law enforcement leadership continues to dwindle.
