Activists want to privately prosecute Deputy IG Lagat
The Deputy Inspector General of the National Police Service Eliud Lagat at the Bunge Towers Nairobi on November 7, 2024.
What you need to know:
- The activists pointed out that Missing Voices, a human rights advocacy group, documented a total of 159 cases of extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances in 2024.
- Out of the cases, 104 (65 percent) incidents are police-related killings, while 55 are enforced disappearances.
Four activists have moved to court seeking orders to privately prosecute Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat, over the death of Albert Ojwang.
The human rights activists also want the court to issue orders blocking Mr Lagat from accessing his office, taking part in the investigations, or contacting any witness, pending his arraignment and reading of formal charges against him.
Julius Ogogoh, Khelef Khalifa, Francis Auma, and Peter Agoro alleged that investigative agencies have failed to act and prosecute Mr Lagat.
“The incident being complained about is so grave that it does not warrant internal police action but criminal prosecution and it is unfortunate that the person in question who orchestrated the whole scenario, arrest, detention, torture, and eventual death of the deceased is the second in command in the police force, therefore, the internal police structure could be tainted,” Mr Ogogoh said in an affidavit.
The activists pointed out that Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja revealed that Mr Lagat had filed a complaint against Mr Ojwang’, which prompted an expeditious probe.
They said no OB number of the complaint was provided when the revelations were made.
Further, the activists said the police have only suspended junior officers with plans to allegedly shield the Deputy IG.
Mr Ojwang’ was picked up by police officers from his home in Homa Bay and taken to Nairobi. Two days later, he was reported dead in what the police initially claimed was from self-inflicted injuries.
A post-mortem report later revealed that the young teacher was tortured to death.
President William Ruto called on the National Police Service to fully cooperate with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and to take every necessary measure to facilitate a swift, transparent, and credible investigation into the death of Ojwang.
“This tragic occurrence, at the hands of the police, is heartbreaking and unacceptable. I strongly condemn the actions and omissions, including any negligence or outright criminality that may have contributed to his untimely death,” President Ruto said.
The activists pointed out that Missing Voices, a human rights advocacy group, documented a total of 159 cases of extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances in 2024.
Out of the cases, 104 (65 percent) incidents are police-related killings, while 55 are enforced disappearances.