By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com

NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya’s Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eliud Lagat, has stepped aside from his duties to facilitate an investigation into the controversial death of blogger Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody. Ojwang’s death has ignited widespread public outrage and triggered protests across the nation.

Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher and online activist, was arrested on June 7 in western Kenya following a social media post allegedly critical of Deputy IG Lagat. Despite the distance, Ojwang was transported to a police station in Nairobi. Tragically, he was found dead in his cell just two days later.

Initial police reports suggested Ojwang died from self-inflicted injuries, claiming he hit his head against a cell wall. However, a subsequent autopsy report directly contradicted this account, indicating that Ojwang sustained “head injury, neck compression and other injuries spread all over the body that are pointing towards assault.”

In a statement released on Monday, Lagat announced his decision to step aside “in view of the ongoing investigations” and pledged his full cooperation. Inspector General Douglas Kanja had earlier apologized for the initial misleading police statement.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), Kenya’s police watchdog, is leading the probe. Already, the officer in charge of the Nairobi Central Police Station, Samson Talam, and another officer, James Mukhwana, have been arrested. A civilian technician accused of tampering with the station’s CCTV footage has also been detained.

The incident has drawn strong condemnation, including from President William Ruto, who described Ojwang’s death as “heartbreaking and unacceptable” and vowed to protect citizens from “rogue police officers.” The ongoing investigation and public outcry highlight persistent concerns about police brutality and accountability in Kenya.