James Mukhwana has revealed that he was told not to mention Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat in his statement about the death of blogger Albert Ojwang. This was a clear attempt to cover up the real source of the orders that led to Albert’s torture and death.
The instructions not to mention DIG Lagat came even as Mukhwana was expected to give his full account to the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA).
It shows there was a plan to hide the truth and protect powerful officers from taking responsibility. From the beginning, the police service, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and even IPOA seemed more focused on covering up the issue than delivering justice.
The main person they were shielding was DIG Lagat, who is now believed to be the one running a torture squad used to silence young people who speak against corruption, bad leadership, and impunity.
In his full statement, Police Constable James Mukhwana confirmed that he was ordered by Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Samson Talam to make sure blogger Albert Ojwang was disciplined by inmates.
Mukhwana said he passed on the instructions to three inmates Gin Abwao, Collins Ireri, and Brian Mwaniki who were each paid KSh 2,000 and given alcohol to do the job.
According to Mukhwana, the aim was to beat Albert enough to require hospital treatment but not to kill him.
He explained that he was warned by OCS Talam that there would be serious consequences if he failed to follow through. Mukhwana further added that Talam said these orders were directly from DIG Lagat.
Albert Ojwang had been arrested earlier for allegedly publishing information that damaged the reputation of DIG Lagat.
Just hours after his arrest, he was found dead in his cell at Central Police Station. His death shocked many Kenyans, who came out to demand justice. Activists and citizens alike could not understand how someone could be arrested and end up dead while in police custody.
This pushed IPOA to launch an investigation. So far, the three civilian inmates who beat Albert have been arrested. DIG Lagat later stepped aside from his role, claiming he wanted to support the investigation and show transparency.
Despite IPOA’s promise to investigate the case to the end, their early move to protect DIG Lagat raises serious questions.
IPOA Chairperson Isaac Hassan said they would not allow a cover-up, while DCI boss Amin Mohamed named OCS Talam as the main suspect.
However, many feel this is still not enough. They believe the real problem lies in the system, which protects senior officers while junior officers and civilians are used to take the fall.
The death of Albert Ojwang has become a symbol of police abuse and lack of accountability in Kenya. His family and many members of the public are demanding the arrest and prosecution of all officers involved in the case, including DIG Eliud Lagat.
