By Faith Cherop
The death of Kenyan blogger Albert Ojwang’ under suspicious circumstances in police custody has cast a harsh spotlight on Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat, who was reportedly behind a defamation complaint that preceded the blogger’s arrest.
According to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Ojwang’ was taken into custody following an investigation triggered by a defamation case filed by Lagat, who claimed the blogger had tarnished his name in a controversial social media post. The arrest, and the subsequent death of Ojwang’ in custody, has now become a flashpoint in the national conversation on police accountability and abuse of power.
As calls for justice and transparency intensify, many Kenyans are now asking: Who is Eliud Lagat?
A Decorated Career in Law Enforcement
Eliud Lagat was appointed as the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Kenya Police Service in July 2024, succeeding Douglas Kanja, who was promoted to Inspector General. Lagat is a highly decorated police officer with over 25 years of service in the National Police Service (NPS), having joined the force in 1998 after training at the Kenya Police College in Kiganjo.
Prior to his current role, Lagat served as the Commandant of the General Service Unit (GSU)—a highly trained paramilitary wing of the police, known for handling public disorder, high-risk operations, and counter-terrorism tasks.
Extensive Expertise in Forensics and Security Operations
Lagat has held various senior roles within the NPS, including:
- Deputy Head of the Crime Scene Support Unit
- Head of the Investigation Bureau
- Head of the Bomb and Hazardous Materials Unit
- Lead Expert in explosives and post-blast investigations
- Directorate of Reforms at the DCI headquarters
He also previously led Kenya’s Forensic Bomb Disposal Unit, making him one of the country’s top experts in dealing with high-risk explosive threats.
Academic and Professional Background
Eliud Lagat is academically accomplished, holding a Master’s Degree in Armed Conflicts and Peace Studies from the University of Nairobi, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Automotive Technology from the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton.
He is known in police circles as a strategic thinker and a technocrat, with a strong emphasis on modernization, reforms, and intelligence-led policing.
Rising Pressure Over Ojwang’s Death
However, Lagat now finds himself at the center of a storm. Critics and civil rights groups are demanding clarity on whether his complaint against Ojwang directly led to the blogger's death—and whether due process was followed.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), civil society organizations, and opposition politicians have called for an independent investigation, with many demanding that Lagat step aside to allow an impartial probe.
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo has gone further, threatening to invoke Article 75(3) of the Constitution to bar public officials involved in abuse of office from holding future positions, explicitly referencing Gachagua and hinting at a broader crackdown on state impunity.
As investigations into Ojwang’s death continue, all eyes remain on Lagat and the leadership of the National Police Service—an institution under increasing pressure to restore public trust and accountability.
Let me know if you'd like a follow-up profile or timeline on Lagat’s career and controversies, or a version optimized for social media.
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