Editor's Review

“Nobody has said you are guilty, but for the country to appreciate and for me, even as your friend, to appreciate and to be clear of my conscience, step aside until investigations are concluded."

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has urged the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eliud Lagat, to step aside following the mysterious death of Albert Ojwang.

Speaking on Wednesday, June 11, on the floor of the Senate, Cheruiyot said it will be better for Lagat to step aside as investigations into the murder of Ojwang go on.

The Kericho Senator noted that Lagat finds himself in a complicated position, having have launched a complaint against the late Ojwang.

“When you are a deputy of an institution, and you make a complaint which is the right thing to do, but unfortunately, the situation gets complicated by the fact that officers who report to him went and picked this particular young man, and he died under very mysterious circumstances.

“Nobody has said you (Lagat) are guilty, but for the country to appreciate and for me, even as your friend, to appreciate and to be clear of my conscience, you step aside until investigations are concluded so that we know what really happened. Otherwise, as it is, no person of good conscience, even if you were to remain and stand firm on the things that are being said,” said Cheruiyot.

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File image of Aaron Cheruiyot.

On June 9, the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, confirmed that Ojwang was arrested after Lagat complained.

Speaking at the Central Police Station, Kanja said the complaint by Lagat was about his name being tarnished.

"The complaint was about his name being tarnished; it was on that basis that investigations were being carried out because he (Lagat) also has a right to be protected by the same law," Kanja said.

Ojwang died while in police custody at Central Police Station in Nairobi following his arrest in Homa Bay County.

The National Police Service (NPS) in a statement claimed that Ojwang sustained head injuries after hitting his head on the wall and was rushed to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

However, an autopsy conducted on Tuesday by Pathologist Bernard Midia revealed that Ojwang died as a result of a head injury and neck compressions.

"The cause of death is very clear. A head injury, neck compression, and we also have other injuries on other parts of the body that are pointing towards assault," Midia said.