Betrayed' by headlines, held by home: Uasin Gishu residents rally behind DIG Lagat

A group of Uasin Gishu residents staged a peaceful demonstration on Monday in support of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Douglas Kanja Lagat, who stepped aside over the controversial death of Albert Ojwang.

The protesters came out in numbers to defend what they termed as an unfair attempt to discredit a man they regard with deep respect.

“We’re heartbroken to hear our son being called a killer when we know he is not,” one protester said. “Why accuse a man who’s always been kind, even to street children?”

A woman who shared her childhood with Lagat expressed shock at the accusations and stood by his moral and religious grounding.

“It hurts deeply because I know him personally. We were raised together in a Christian environment. Let justice take its course, but we are praying for him as a community,” she said.

She quoted a proverb in their local dialect that loosely translates to “Even if a rat is bad, it still belongs to the family of rats."

The residents dismissed attempts to link Lagat to Ojwang’s death as politically motivated and aimed at tarnishing his name. They further called for patience and due process as investigations proceed.

To many in the community, Lagat is a symbol of discipline and integrity

A section of civil society activists and youth also came to the defence of Lagat, amid mounting public pressure and calls for his resignation following the death of Ojwang at Central Police Station.

Wazalendo Movement Africa founder and CEO Oponyo Eugene lauded Lagat’s leadership, highlighting his commitment to police reforms and his decision to initiate a formal complaint as a show of confidence in legal processes.

Lagat stepped aside pending investigations into the death of Ojwang.

In a statement dated June 16, 2025, Lagat said the move was in “good and conscious thought” of his role and responsibilities.

The stepping down came after he met President William Ruto to ask him to step aside to allow the ongoing probe.