DIG Eliud Lagat is back in office while a family is still mourning their son, and that says everything about the broken state of justice in Kenya.
The death of Albert Ojwang, a blogger and teacher, took place under police custody just days after Lagat filed a complaint that led to Ojwang’s arrest.
This isn’t just a coincidence it’s a direct link that any reasonable person can see. But instead of facing accountability, Lagat is back in power, protected by the same system that failed to protect Ojwang.
A court ruling on July 2 allowed the withdrawal of a case that had blocked Lagat from accessing his office. The judge claimed the issue had been overtaken by events. But to Kenyans watching from the outside, the only thing that’s overtaken is justice itself.
The same day Lagat walked free, the family of Ojwang was holding a requiem mass. While a mother cried for her dead son and a father vowed to fight for justice, Lagat prepared to resume duty, as if nothing happened.
Lagat may not have beaten Ojwang himself, but he filed the complaint that started the whole chain of events.
He knew what he was doing. He handed a critic to a system known for its brutality. And what followed?
Ojwang ended up dead, beaten and broken. Six officers have been charged, including the OCS and junior officers. Yet the man at the top, the one who lit the match, gets away without a scratch.
This is a clear example of selective justice. If Lagat truly believed in transparency, he would have stayed away from office until the whole case was resolved.
Instead, he’s rushing back, hiding behind legal technicalities and state protection. Human rights groups have every reason to be alarmed.
This is more than one death. It is a message to every Kenyan who dares to speak against those in power.
The question is no longer just about Ojwang’s death. It’s about whether power in Kenya now guarantees immunity. If a DIG can file a complaint, see a man die as a result, and still return to work without consequences, then it’s open season on any Kenyan who speaks up.
The courts may have set Lagat free, but the people have not. On social media, the cry for justice is growing louder.
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