The name of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat has continued to come up whenever Kenyans speak about the death of Albert Ojwang, a young teacher whose life ended while in police custody.
Many people believe the case is a test of whether powerful officials can be held accountable. Months after Ojwang’s death, the anger and questions have not gone away, and the demand for justice is still strong across the country.
Albert Ojwang was arrested in Migori after making social media posts that accused Lagat of collecting large bribes every month. After his arrest, he was transferred to Nairobi and held at Central Police Station.
By the next morning, police announced that Ojwang was dead and claimed that he had harmed himself. His family rejected this explanation immediately.
They said he was taken from Migori alive and healthy and could not have died the way police described. Many Kenyans agreed with the family and began asking what really happened inside the police cells.
Ojwang’s death caused deep pain to his family. He was the only son and a father to a young child. His parents, wife, and baby were left struggling with grief and shock.
As news spread, people poured into the streets to protest. Some marched with his body to the police station where he was last seen alive. Others joined demonstrations in different towns, singing songs that showed their readiness to fight for justice.
Videos shared online showed citizens bravely confronting police officers and demanding answers.
Attention soon turned to Eliud Lagat. Reports emerged claiming that Ojwang was first taken to a place linked to officers under Lagat’s authority, where he was badly beaten. It was later said that his body was moved to Central Police Station, but an officer there reportedly refused to record his detention because he was already badly injured or dead.
Despite these claims, Lagat was not arrested and continued appearing in public events. This angered many Kenyans, who felt that justice was being delayed because of his position.
The government later offered Ojwang’s family two million shillings as compensation. While the family accepted the money, many Kenyans said payment could not replace justice. They argued that without arrests and clear accountability, deaths in police custody would continue.
Indeed, other cases of people dying while held by police were reported after Ojwang’s death, strengthening public fears about police brutality.
The legal fight has also continued. Courts have heard cases involving suspects linked to Ojwang’s death, and there have been attempts to suspend or investigate Lagat.
At one court session, a man shouted that Lagat should be arrested before being removed from the courtroom. The High Court later allowed investigations into Lagat to continue.
Ojwang’s father has openly asked that justice will only be real if everyone involved, including senior officers, is charged.
Even towards the end of 2025, Kenyans are still speaking out online. Some posts point out the pain of a family spending holidays without their loved one, while those accused remain free.
Activists continue to count the days without justice and remind the public that the case is not closed.
Kenyans say real justice for Albert Ojwang will only come when the truth is known and those responsible are held to account. Until then, the calls for justice are unlikely to stop.
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