The Roots Party of Kenya Leader Prof. George Wajackoyah is calling for the immediate suspension of Deputy Inspector General, Kenya Police Service (DIG) Eliud Kipkoech Lagat.
Wajackoyah says that by virtue of DIG Lagat being a complainant behind the arrest of Albert Ojwang who later died under mysterious conditions, he ought to be suspended until investigations into the whole saga is concluded.
Speaking on TV47’s Daily Report show on Monday, June 9, Wajackoyah asked pertinent questions that he feels investigators should aspire to answer in their probe;
Firstly, Wajackoyah noted that the country needed to know why Lagat, being a complainant in the case of the Homa Bay blogger who is now deceased, was attending press conferences that touch on the same issue.
Secondly, the 2022 presidential candidate called upon the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to make public the names — and suspend — the officers who went all the way to Homa Bay County to arrest Ojwang’.
“If I was President Ruto, I would have suspended everybody in the police, people who are responsible… I will not suspend IG Kanja in this case because I don’t think he sent his deputy to complain. It also took him by surprise as far as I am concerned,” Prof. Wajackoyah said. “Why should a high ranking policeman complain against a Kenyan who has expressed himself constitutionally.”
Prof. Wajackoyah cited the Miranda Rights to fault the way the police handled the whole situation. Miranda rights dictate that a defendant cannot be questioned by police in the context of a custodial interrogation until the defendant made aware of: The right to remain silent, the right to consult with an attorney and have the attorney present during questioning, and the right to have an attorney appointed if indigent.
“If the complainant was Lagat, did he book an OB? We need to see that OB. Did he write a statement to that effect? We need to see that statement. Did he have evidence? We need to see it. Then was the late Albert Ojwang’ accorded his constructional rights? Was he told why he was been arrested, was he afforded a right to have a lawyer present? Why was he arrested and driven for so long and then found dead?” Prof. Wajackoyah posed.
According to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, DIG Lagat filed a complaint of defamation against Ojwang’, leading to launch of investigations.
“There was a complaint that had been launched by the DIG KPS about his name being tarnished. It is on that basis that investigations were actually being carried out because he also has a right to be protected by the same law,” IG Kanja said during a press conference on Monday, June 9.
Police reports indicate that Ojwang’ was found unconscious inside his cell at Central Police Station, Nairobi, and was rushed to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The late Ojwang’ was arrested at his home in Homa Bay County on Saturday, June 7 afternoon and transferred to Nairobi. He died on Sunday.
