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BREAKING NEWS


 DIG Eliud Lagat Resigns Amid National Outcry


  

 Nairobi, June 16, 2025 – In a dramatic development, Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat has tendered his resignation following intense public pressure and investigations into the death of digital blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody youtube.com+11citizen.digital+11capitalfm.co.ke+11.

1. What sparked the uproar

2. Waves of protests swept Nairobi

  • Demonstrators, fueled by anger over police brutality, marched through the capital demanding accountability—and Lagat’s resignation at the top of the placards citizen.digital.

  • Video footage captures emotional clashes between youths and police, with tear gas deployed to quell unrest .

3. Institutional and moral pressure

  • Rights group Amnesty International stated Lagat “should step down… to protect the integrity of the institution,” noting that even absent a guilty verdict, stepping aside would restore public trust the-star.co.ke.

  • Clergy groups and legal experts echoed these calls, urging officials involved in the case to recuse themselves pending investigations youtube.com+10the-star.co.ke+10the-star.co.ke+10.

4. Official posture: waiting on IPOA

  • Inspector General Douglas Kanja said the DIG would only resign if IPOA’s findings directly implicated him in Ojwang’s death youtube.com+9kenyans.co.ke+9kenyans.co.ke+9.

  • Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen stressed there was no justification yet for resignation based on the ongoing inquiry, promising to act if evidence emerged kenyans.co.ke.

5. The turning point

  • On June 16, Citizen Digital confirmed that Lagat resigned amid legal and political heat capitalfm.co.ke+11citizen.digital+11the-star.co.ke+11.

  • This move comes after sustained public protests, high-profile advocacy, and accelerating institutional scrutiny—including arrests of suspects and demands from civil society and political figures.

📝 Analysis: What this resignation means

  1. Accountability wins. Lagat’s resignation underlines that public demand can spur accountability—even in high-ranking institutions.

  2. Strength of oversight. IPOA’s swift action and the IG’s upfront stance show Kenya’s oversight mechanisms are active and responsive.

  3. A test for reforms. Authorities have promised station-wide CCTV rollouts and digitized records—Lagat’s resignation sets the stage for genuine police reforms.

🔍 What’s next?

  • IPOA’s final report: Crucial. Will determine if charges follow against Lagat or other officers.

  • Judicial review: Potential private prosecutions loom, and courts may play a role in ensuring justice.

  • Reform enforcement: Will Kenya’s promises—like CCTV in all stations—translate into real change?

DIG Lagat’s resignation is a pivotal moment in Kenya’s battle for justice and police reform. It stands as proof that civic action, media scrutiny, and independent bodies can resonate—even at the highest levels of law enforcement.

Stay tuned as the IPOA report unfolds and reforms begin—Kenya is watching.

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