As chaos rocked Nairobi, some residents of Mombasa, Kisumu and Kilifi joined growing calls for the resignation and prosecution of Deputy Inspector-General Eliud Lagat over the death of teacher-cum-blogger Albert Ojwang in a police cell.
Mr Lagat, who stepped aside on Monday to allow investigations, has been on the spot since it emerged that he was the complainant in the case that led to the arrest of the blogger in Homa Bay before he was transferred to Nairobi, where he met his death.
In Mombasa, police on Tuesday thwarted a planned street protest they termed “illegal” and arrested four people.
The four were roughed up a few minutes after assembling at the coastal city’s elephant tusks, a monument in Mombasa, in preparation for demos to push for the arrest and prosecution of Mr Lagat, Central Police Station Office Commanding Station (OCS) Samson Talaam and all those linked to the murder.
Mombasa sub-County Police Commander Nicholas Chelulot said the protestors did not inform the police on time about the planned protests.
“We received information about a group of people who were holding demonstrations. We questioned them, but they failed to provide any document authorising them to protest. They defied the order to disperse peacefully, and we had to arrest their leaders, who are now at the Central Police Station,” he said.
Mombasa: Four protesters arrested for holding demonstration to demand justice for Albert Ojwang
A handful of protesters had come out for the street demonstrations but left the venue within minutes upon the arrest of the four.
“After the arrest, the situation returned to normal, and we asked those wishing to hold protests to inform police on time since it is their constitutional right to hold peaceful demonstrations,” the police chief added.
This came amid tight security across Mombasa city centre, with General Service Unit officers and anti-riot police being deployed to strategic locations to ensure no demonstrations are held in the town.
In Kilifi, activists and Pwani University students called for the resignation, arrest and prosecution of Mr Lagat.
They held a peaceful demonstration from Mkoroshoni market to Karisa Maitha grounds, where they addressed the media.
Ms Eve Mvera, their spokesperson, said they want justice done for Mr Ojwang and urgent police reforms.
“Our hearts are full of grief yet fortified with unwavering demand justice for Albert Ojwang, a cherished member of our community in Kilifi,” she said.
The late Ojwang attended Matsangoni Primary School, Barani Secondary School in Malindi and Pwani University.
They said Ojwang’s death was a betrayal of the 2010 Constitution and the public trust in the Kenya police.
“His untimely death is not a mere statistic; it is a profound testament to the unchecked brutality, systemic impunity and deep-rooted corruption that continue to taint our law enforcement institutions,” she said.
They demanded immediate and transparent investigations into the death and public disclosure of its findings.
“While we know the deputy inspector-general of police has stepped aside, we demand his full resignation and that of any other senior official directly implicated in the murder,” Ms Mvera said.
The Pwani University Student Association (PUSA) leader, Andrew Muteti, demanded the resignation of Mr Lagat, stating that they would not allow any form of political repression.
“We are going to liberate this nation not with any weapon but through the power of the voice,” he said.
In Kisumu, a handful of youth and activists took a petition to the Independent Police Oversight Authority offices, demanding the resignation of Mr Lagat to pave the way for a credible investigation into the murder.
The youth marched from Kondele to the Ipoa offices, where they had a brief meeting with the authority officials. They presented their petition and left.
Youth in Kisumu under New Generation Aspirants (NGA) and KIKAO gave Mr Lagat seven days to resign and for the police to arrest him.
"DIG Eliud Lagat, identified as the complainant in the case leading to Albert Ojwang’s arrest, must tender his resignation by June 25, 2025, the memorial date of our martyred comrades of the June 2024 Gen Z Protests. His continued presence in office undermines the integrity of ongoing investigations and perpetuates a culture of impunity," said Mr Dick Orongo, who led the youth.
According to Mr Orongo, as the second-in-command, Mr Lagat’s role as a complainant and his command responsibility over the officers implicated in Ojwang’s death constituted a serious conflict of interest.
“His resignation is non-negotiable to ensure impartial investigations,” he said.
However, Kisumu was largely quiet and peaceful, with dozens of anti-riot police strategically stationed behind the Kisumu Central Police Station in readiness for any action.
However, they remained idle, some taking a nap as there were no protests in the lakeside city. Offices were opened and business continued to operate as usual, even as protests rocked the capital, Nairobi.
"We demand an immediate cessation of extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, abductions, and State-sponsored repression. According to Missing Voices, 159 cases of extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances were documented in 2024, with 65 percent attributed to police actions," said Mr Jim Magero.
Reports by Anthony Kitimo, Rushdie Oudia and Maureen Ongala.
