Kenyan Newspapers Review, July 15: Embattled DIG Lagat Returns to Work Without Driver, Chase Cars
The Kenyan newspapers on Tuesday, July 15, mainly covered the political status quo, with the opposition positioning itself in a vantage point to face off with President William Ruto in the 2027 vote.
Search option is now available at TUKO! Feel free to search the content on topics/people you enjoy reading about in the top right corner ;)
Source: UGC
Elsewhere, the newspapers reported on the silent return of embattled Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat.
1. Daily Nation
The newspaper reported on the return of DIG Eliud Lagat to work after close to three weeks of absence.
Lagat stepped aside from his post on July 16 to allow investigations into the murder of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody.
Search option is now available at TUKO! Feel free to search the content on topics/people you enjoy reading about in the top right corner ;)
Daily Nation reported that Lagat returned to his office on Monday, July 14; he drove himself to Vigilance House without the chase cars that would ordinarily trail him.
The newspaper further reported that Lagat spent less than an hour in his office before later calling on his boss, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, for a private meeting.
He was the complainant against Ojwang; the DIG had filed a complaint against the deceased, whom he accused of posting defamatory content on X.
Acting on Lagat's complaints, the DCI deployed its officers, who left Nairobi for Homa Bay to arrest Ojwang.
He was picked up from his parents' home on June 7 and driven to Nairobi the same day.
Ojwang was booked into Nairobi's Central Police Station and confined in a cell where he died moments later.
Autopsy results indicated the blogger was heavily assaulted, going by the marks visible on the body and compression marks on the neck.
2. The Standard
The Standard also spared a space for DIG Lagat's return to office weeks after stepping aside.
On Monday, July 14, the High Court in Nairobi turned down a petition filed to block Lagat from undertaking his duties, this after investigators cleared him of any wrongdoing in the murder of blogger Ojwang.
Judge Chacha Mwita dismissed the application by activist Eliud Karanja Matindi, who wanted the DIG in charge of the Kenya Police Service (KPS) to be barred from returning to office despite the Independent Police Performance Authority (IPOA) clearing him.
Matindi sought to have Lagat barred from duty under Section 23 of the National Police Service Act, arguing that the police boss was the complainant whose case led to the murder of Ojwang.
The NPS, the Attorney General and Lagat were listed as the respondents in the case.
According to Matindi, Lagat did not have the authority to temporarily leave office and then return at will.
Justice Mwita declined to grant the prayers sought, asking the respondents to file their responses no later than July 23, after which further directions would be issued.
3. People Daily
People Daily reported on the opposition's strategy to challenge President William Ruto.
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i believes he is the best fit to face off with Ruto.
Boasting about being Gen Z's favourite, Matiang'i said serving in the Jubilee government gave him all the qualifications needed to be elected president.
Matiang'i said Gen-Z's move to mention him several times in the past was what motivated him to decide to contest for the country's leadership.
"I am not old, I have no corruption record, and I speak Kiswahili. I am not on the list of candidates who have been banned by Gen-Z because I am their best candidate and the leader they want to straighten things out," People Daily quoted him as saying.
He pitched himself by saying that because the youth make up more than 70% of the country's population, their support will make his journey to the state house easier.
Matiang'i is in the same faction as Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, DCP's Rigathi Gachagua, Eugene Wamalwa (DAP-K), Martha Karua (PLP) and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, among others.
The leaders insist they will have a joint candidate to challenge Ruto in 2027.
4. Taifa Leo
Taifa Leo reported on the emerging challenges the new Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is grappling with just a few days after taking over the commission.
In the recent past, the commission has had to deal with misinformation and reckless remarks from politicians regarding the conduct of the 2027 general election.
The commission has had to urge Kenyans to disregard the rumours of a vote-rigging plot, saying they are completely baseless.
An elected leader from northeastern Kenya had asserted that votes would be stolen to help the current president win.
In a statement, the commission, now headed by chairman Erustus Ethekon, said such claims were dangerous because they undermine Kenyans’ confidence in the commission's performance.
The IEBC pledged to engage with stakeholders, including political parties and their leaders, to discuss ways to restore Kenyans’ confidence in the electoral process and its results.
“We call on all stakeholders, especially the political class, to cease all statements or actions that could undermine Kenyans’ confidence in the ability of this commission to conduct elections in a free, fair and credible manner,” it said.
The IEBC reiterated that it would discharge its constitutional responsibilities in an independent, impartial and consistent manner with the Constitution and relevant electoral laws.
The commission urged the public to verify information on electoral matters from IEBC’s official channels.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
