Former Chief Justice David Maraga has issued a tough condemnation of Kenya’s top police and investigative agencies over what he describes as the brutal murder and subsequent cover-up of blogger Albert Omondi Ojwang’.
Through an official statement titled “Operation 3L (3rd Liberation) Action”, the former Chief Justice has demanded for immediate arrests and prosecutions of Director of DCI and the IG accusing them of masterminding the conspiracy behind the murder of Albert Ojwang’ while in Police custody and “blatantly lying under oath” and attempting to cover up the circumstances surrounding the blogger’s death.
“It is now evident that the Director of Criminal Investigations, the Inspector General of the National Police Service, and the Deputy Inspector General Mr. Eliud Lagat among other leaders, blatantly lied under oath on the brutal murder of Mr. Albert Omondi Ojwang’,” stated Maraga.
Maraga also demanded immediate arrest and prosecution of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat who has been under pressure from some Kenyans, human rights groups and a section of opposition leaders to resign.
The former CJ claimed there is “prima facie evidence” linking him to the “illegal arrest, torture, strangulation, and eventual murder” of Ojwang’. He also called out Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) for cover up the circumstances surrounding the blogger’s death.
Furthermore, Maraga issued an ultimatum to the relevant authorities to arrest and prosecute perpetrators of Ojwang’s death by June 25, 2025, failure to which will prompt him to personally join efforts toward private prosecution.
In a notable escalation, Maraga accused President William Ruto of being “callous and disregardful” and turning a blind eye to the deaths of many young Kenyans since he assumed office in 2022.
Maraga’s intervention into Ojwang’s death has renewed the calls for police brutality to stop with his support for public demonstrations and private prosecutions also reflecting growing frustration among citizens and civil society.
