An activist has filed a petition at the Milimani Constitutional and Human Rights Division court, seeking orders to block the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Eliud Lagat’s Personal Assistant (PA), Patrick Tito, from assuming his duties in his absence.
In a notice of motion application, activist Eliud Karanja Matindi wants the court to stop Tito from carrying out any duties as per a letter that was issued by Lagat when he stepped down from office.
In a letter dated June 16, 2025, the petitioner states that DIG Lagat announced he had opted to step aside from the office of DIG Kenya Police Service, pending completion of investigations on the unfortunate incident of the death of blogger and teacher Albert Omondi Ojwang.
Further, in the same letter, DIG Lagat stated that the functions of his office would henceforth be performed by his personal assistant, Patrick Tito.
Through a sworn affidavit, Matindi cites that under Article 245(3) of the Constitution, there can only be one DIG, in Kenya Police Service at any one time, whether appointed substantively under that provision or in an acting capacity under Article 246(3) (a) of the Constitution.
“Pending the hearing and determination of this application, an order be issued prohibiting the 2nd interested party Patrick Tito, from carrying out any functions of Deputy Inspector General Kenya Police Service (NPS), as set out in Section 23, National Police Service Act, as notified in the letter dated June 16, 2025, issued by the 1st interested party Eliud Kipkoech Lagat,” part of the petition read.
“After the hearing and determination of this application, and pending the hearing and determination of the accompanying petition, an order does issue prohibiting the second interested party Patrick Tito from carrying out any functions of Deputy Inspector General Deputy Inspector General, Kenya Police Service, as set out in Section 23, National Police Service Act, as notified in the letter dated June 16, 2025, issued by the 1st interested party Eliud Kipkoech Lagat,” part of the petition read.
DIG Lagat stepped down following mounting pressure after the death of blogger and teacher Ojwang, which occurred at the Nairobi Central Police Station.
The pressure mounted on the police boss, after it was revealed that Albert was arrested following a complaint from him, having reported the deceased at the Central Police Station for defamatory statements made on social media prior to his arrest.
