The embattled Deputy Inspector-General of Police Eliud Lagat is expected to resume his duties at Vigilance House, weeks after voluntarily stepping aside to pave the way for investigations into the death of teacher-blogger Albert Omondi Ojwang.
His return comes despite a new legal petition challenging the legitimacy of his reinstatement, and amid growing public debate over accountability within the National Police Service.
Lagat had stepped aside on June 16, 2025, following mounting pressure from civil society, human rights groups, and a section of the public demanding transparency and accountability over the death of Ojwang, who died while in police custody at Nairobi Central Police Station.
The circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death triggered national outrage, with many accusing police officers of misconduct and calling for the resignation or suspension of senior officers, including Lagat.
Although Lagat was never directly linked to the death, concerns emerged regarding the systemic culture of the police force and the influence of senior leaders in preventing such incidents. His brief absence was presented as a personal choice aimed at permitting independent investigations to continue without the appearance of interference.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), in conjunction with the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU), launched parallel investigations into the incident. According to sources cited by the Daily Nation, IPOA did not find any evidence directly linking Lagat to Ojwang’s death. The absence of adverse findings provided legal and administrative justification for his return.
Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja confirmed that there was no court order or disciplinary sanction barring Lagat from resuming his office. “He voluntarily stepped aside to allow for investigations. Now that he has been cleared, he is free to return,” Kanja reportedly told senior officials last week.
Lagat’s expected return was confirmed over the weekend through internal police memos, with some sources indicating that he was scheduled to report back to work either on Sunday, July 13, or Monday, July 14, 2025.
However, by Monday morning, police spokesperson Michael Muchiri had not officially confirmed his physical presence at Vigilance House. When reached for comment, Muchiri stated, “As of now, we have not received any official communication regarding his return, but if there is an update, we will inform the public in due time.”
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Despite his legal clearance, Lagat’s return has not gone unchallenged. A new constitutional petition has been filed by United Kingdom-based Kenyan activist Eliud Karanja Matindi, who argues that Lagat’s act of stepping aside constituted a de facto resignation.
The petition claims that since Lagat vacated the office—even temporarily—the appointment of an acting Deputy Inspector-General, Patrick Tito, by the Inspector-General was unconstitutional. The case is expected to be mentioned before Justice Chacha Mwita later this month.
The petition has revived discussions on how to interpret the durations of public office terms, particularly when officers temporarily step-down during investigations.
Experts are divided: some argue that such temporary withdrawals are not resignations and are purely administrative, while others contend that senior officials must adhere to legal procedures to uphold constitutional integrity and public trust.
Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Nelson Havi is among those who have questioned the wisdom of Lagat’s return. In a statement shared on his official platform, Havi said, “It is premature and deeply insensitive for Mr. Lagat to resume office while the death of Albert Ojwang remains unresolved in the eyes of many Kenyans. Leadership demands both legality and moral authority.”
Conversely, some political leaders and police insiders have come out in support of Lagat’s reinstatement. In an interview with the Daily Nation, a senior Ministry of Interior official who requested anonymity stated, “The Deputy IG has been treated unfairly. There is no evidence against him, and continuing to sideline him sends the wrong signal—that officers can be removed due to public outcry rather than concrete facts.”
The case of Eliud Lagat is being closely watched as a test for the police service’s accountability mechanisms and the broader legal framework governing leadership integrity.
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