Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) deputy leader Cleophas Malala has stated that police officers should not arrest any Kenyans and detain them in custody until the Deputy Inspector General of the National Police Service (NPS), Eliud Lagat’s statement in the Albert Ojwang murder case is made public.
Speaking in Tigania on Saturday, June 21, 2025, Malala has warned the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to comply by Sunday morning, June 21, 2025.
“We are telling IPOA and DCI that if DIG Lagat’s statement is not made public by Sunday morning, we will not allow police to arrest any Kenyan and detain them at a police station,” he stated.
Further, he has called for the resignation of Lagat over Ojwang’s murder, who died hours after being arrested by DCI officers.
“If you’re an illicit brew seller, no police officer should arrest you; if you are a boda boda rider, you should not be arrested. We are saying Lagat must go,” he declared.
This comes a day after Lagat appeared before the IPOA on Thursday, June 19, 2025, to record a statement regarding the death of Ojwang.
Ojwang’s death has triggered a national uproar amid mounting pressure for accountability at the highest level of Kenya’s police service.
Lagat, accompanied by a lawyer, arrived at IPOA offices around midday for a session that lasted over three hours.
Details of his statement remain limited, but sources said he appeared composed throughout the questioning.
Officials managing the case stated that his statement will undergo further analysis before the next steps are decided.
Lagat
Lagat had earlier written to the DCI, complaining about what he termed as malicious posts on the social media platform X, which he believed tarnished his reputation.
IPOA Chairperson Isaack Hassan on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, confirmed that Lagat had been formally summoned.
Noting that at least 20 police officers, including the Deputy OCS of Nairobi Central Police Station, Inspector Samuel Ng’ang’a. Two officers, OCS Samson Talaam and Constable James Mukhwana, had already given their statements and have been arraigned, and are being held for two weeks pending investigation.
Ng’ang’a was arrested on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, and presented at Kahawa West Law Courts before being detained at Muthaiga Police Station.
Additionally, civilian Kelvin Mutisya Mutava, who allegedly interfered with CCTV footage, and three others, Brian Mwaniki Njue, Collins Karani, and Gin Ammitou, who were inmates at the Central Police Station during the incident, were also presented in court.
They are being held for 14 days while investigations are conducted.
Hassan said IPOA wanted to hear Lagat’s side and had also made an application to mobile service providers for call data of persons of interest, including any possible communication between Lagat and the officers involved before or after Ojwang’s death.
