Kanja: Why Deputy IG of Police Lagat has not stepped aside
Kanja also apologised over the misleading initial statement issued after Ojwang’s death, which claimed he had hit his head on a wall.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has explained why his deputy, Eliud Lagat, is still in office, saying he will only be required to step aside if his name appears in the ongoing investigations into the death of Albert Ojwang.
Speaking before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security on Thursday, Kanja said the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is leading the probe and that everyone mentioned will be required to give their account.
More To Read
- IPOA responds to claims of mishandled evidence in Albert Ojwang's murder probe
- Court orders DCI to probe use of Talaam’s phone to solicit money while in IPOA custody
- Constable James Mukhwana remanded for 21 days pending investigations into Albert Ojwang's murder
- "Wear Masks for Justice": Comedian Eric Omondi rallies Kenyans to show solidarity for shot hawker Boniface Kariuki
- Court allows IPOA to detain two police officers linked to hawker shooting for 15 days
- Officers accused of shooting hawker during Nairobi protests arraigned
“This is about the DIG stepping aside to allow for investigation. Only this one. There is an ongoing investigation by IPOA, and in these investigations, every person whose name will be mentioned is to have played any role that led to the death of the late Albert Ojwang, must record their statement and show their side. And it is on that basis, I believe, if the DIG is going to be mentioned, then definitely he’ll be able to step aside to allow for that cooperation of that investigation,” he explained.
Kanja also apologised over the misleading initial statement issued after Ojwang’s death, which claimed he had hit his head on a wall.
He said the report was based on the first information received that Sunday morning.
“Why should the people of Kenya believe that what we are telling this committee is believable. Let me start by saying that, as I did say yesterday, the information, the primary information that we got that early morning of Sunday is that the late had hit his head on the walls, and based on that, the first statement was issued based on that information,” Kanja told the committee.
“And it is for that reason, the DCI have stated very clearly, why is it that this OCS prepares and dispatch that the DCI has mentioned, and on my part, and on behalf of the National Police Service, I did to the people of Kenya yesterday, I said, I’m very sorry for that information that was provided to the people. I still remain sorry, and the National Police Service remain sorry for that. That is our position.”
At the same session, Kanja confirmed that the power to one of the CCTV cameras at Central Police Station had been unplugged and that efforts are ongoing to recover footage from the hard drive.
“While we were at the Senate yesterday (Wednesday), it was mentioned that the power of one of the CCTVs had actually been unplugged. However, the experts are looking at the hard drive to reconstruct everything. So I believe we are also going to get a lot of information,” he said.
“The investigators are going to get a lot of information from the CCTV."
IPOA had earlier told the Senate that its investigations had ruled out suicide as the cause of Ojwang’s death.
“The autopsy report and our preliminary investigation rule out the theory of suicide,” said IPOA Vice Chair Anne Wanjiku.
She added that CCTV systems at the OCS’s office had been tampered with and that IPOA only learned of Ojwang’s death through the media and a police signal from the Inspector General. IPOA moved swiftly, conducting forensic scene visits, collecting blood samples, retrieving police records and securing the CCTV DVR for further analysis
Top Stories Today
