NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyan senators on Tuesday demanded the immediate arrest of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Eliud Kipkoech Lagat following the death of Albert Ojwang’, who died under suspicious circumstances while in police custody.
The calls for accountability came during a heated Senate session after Migori Senator Eddy Oketch sought a statement from the Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations regarding the incident.
Ojwang’, a resident of Homa Bay County, was arrested on Saturday and transferred to Nairobi, where he died less than 24 hours later.
While police claimed he died by suicide, a post-mortem by Government Pathologist Dr. Bernard Midia revealed that Ojwang’ had suffered multiple injuries consistent with assault.
“This man didn’t just die—he was killed by police,” Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang declared. “It is a shameful act. Under these circumstances, the Minister of Interior should have resigned.”
Senators accused top police officials of orchestrating or covering up the killing and demanded that arrests be made—including that of DIG Lagat.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale was among the most vocal, stating: “We must instil fear in the government to respect human life. It is not enough to ask the Deputy IG to resign—he must be arrested and write his statement from a police cell.”
Khalwale also called for the arrest of the officers involved in Ojwang’s transfer from Homa Bay to Nairobi, accusing them of operating with impunity.
“Why are they walking scot-free?” he asked. “We must protect our children, and this Parliament must be the one to end this madness.”
Calls for Judicial Inquiry
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei echoed the sentiment, urging Parliament to establish a judicial inquiry into extrajudicial killings.
He went further, calling for the resignation of Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.
“Parliament cannot allow insecurity and state-sponsored violence to go unchecked,” Cherargei said. “Heads must roll—from the OCS in Homa Bay to Safaricom, which allegedly released the victim’s location.”
Senate Majority Leader Slams ‘Hypocrisy’
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot criticised his colleagues for what he described as performative outrage.
“We have abetted these crimes for too long. We talk, we trend, then we go silent,” he said. “We passed motions. We gave committees clear mandates. Why haven’t they acted?”
“This House cannot become a House of lamentations,” he added. “If we whine, what do we expect the young people to do?”
Focus on Ojwang’s Final Posts
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka urged lawmakers to investigate Ojwang’s online activity prior to his death.
The 27-year-old had posted on social media alleging corruption within the National Police Service, including claims that the service mishandled public funds.
“Ojwang’ talked about how the police receive Ksh.56 billion annually,” Onyonka said. “He was killed for speaking out. The police are a consequence of our failure as leaders. Kenya is becoming a failed state—and we are part of the problem.”
The Senate’s strong stance comes amid public outrage over a string of alleged police killings in recent years.
The Ojwang’ case has reignited demands for reform, with citizens and civil society groups urging swift action and transparency.
