In a fiery interview aired on June 16, 2025, Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah called on the international community to impose travel bans on Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat and his children.
This comes in the wake of mounting public anger over the mysterious death of university student and influencer Albert Ojwang while in police custody. Wajackoyah’s remarks have intensified pressure on the Kenyan government to hold senior police officials accountable.
Wajackoyah accused Lagat of failing to step aside despite allegations linking him to the cover-up of Ojwang’s death. He urged the United Kingdom, European Union, and the United States to place immediate travel sanctions on Lagat pending full investigations.
The vocal former presidential candidate says this move would send a strong signal that impunity at the highest levels will not be tolerated.
Wajackoyah’s Explosive Allegations Against DIG Lagat
Wajackoyah did not mince words as he tore into the government’s handling of Ojwang’s death, branding it a blatant abuse of power. He insisted that although he has no direct evidence tying DIG Lagat to the killing, the available circumstantial facts are damning.
“All fingers are pointing at him,” Wajackoyah said. “You cannot be the judge when you’re also under suspicion. The Deputy Inspector General of Police should have stepped aside immediately.”
Wajackoyah criticized Lagat’s demeanor during public appearances related to the incident, describing it as suspicious and loaded with guilt. “You can see his body language. He was acting like someone who was directly involved,” he remarked, adding that his intuition—his “spiritual perception”—confirmed this unease.
He accused President William Ruto’s administration of shielding senior officers from scrutiny, saying the failure to remove Lagat from office proves the state’s unwillingness to uphold justice. “It shows the inefficiency of Ruto’s government,” Wajackoyah said. “It’s collapsing under its own weight.”
He went further to warn: “Unless Lagat steps down, I will petition international allies. I practised law in the US—I will use my network to block him and his children from traveling abroad.”
Evidence Gaps and Witness Intimidation Concerns
Wajackoyah’s demands include a full audit of the actions of all officers linked to the night of Ojwang’s arrest. He pointed to CCTV footage showing the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at a local bar during the incident, demanding that the officer be investigated immediately.
“The OCS was seen on CCTV drinking. If he was not at the station, who was in charge? And if he came back to erase the CCTV footage, he must be charged as an accomplice,” he declared.
The Roots Party boss also called on witnesses to come forward. “That woman who was at that bar must give a statement. The employees at the pub near the airport must be questioned,” he said.
His comments follow recent arrests of low-ranking officers in connection with the death. Wajackoyah insists they should be released if there is no credible evidence against them. “This is scapegoating. The real culprits are walking free, hiding behind uniforms,” he said.
Government Silence Adds Fuel to the Fire
Wajackoyah saved his harshest criticism for the government’s top brass, including the Cabinet Secretary for Internal Security, Kipchumba Murkomen, whom he labeled “the most inefficient CS I’ve ever seen.”
He slammed Murkomen’s failure to respond decisively and condemned the silence from President Ruto as a betrayal of the Kenyan people.
“The President has not addressed the nation. He’s quiet while young Kenyans die in custody. What kind of leadership is that?” he asked.
He also accused the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) of inaction, saying they have become part of the problem. “They haven’t even asked Lagat to step aside. It’s just a laughing story,” he said.
Wajackoyah’s statement reflects growing public outrage over rising police brutality, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings in Kenya. His demand for global sanctions against DIG Lagat echoes calls by civil society groups and activists seeking international intervention.
