The Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Nairobi’s Central Police Station, Samson Talaam, is due in court today. A magistrate will decide whether he should remain in custody for another 21 days as investigations continue into the death of a detainee, Albert Ojwang.
Ojwang, who was being held at Central Police Station, died under suspicious circumstances earlier this month. His case has sent shockwaves through the public and reignited concerns over police conduct in custody.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) wants more time to investigate Talaam’s alleged role in the death. IPOA claims the senior officer not only orchestrated the assault that led to Ojwang’s death but also tried to cover it up.
“Mr Talaam was in constant communication with officers who had direct access to the cells,” IPOA’s lead investigator, Abdirahman Jibril, said in a sworn affidavit. One of those officers, Constable James Mukhwana, is already in custody.
IPOA further argues that releasing Talaam at this stage could jeopardise the investigation. They cited concerns over witness tampering, the influence he may still hold within the police service, and rising public anger.
Talaam’s lawyer has pushed back strongly. “There is no credible evidence linking my client to this crime,” he told the court. He argued for Talaam’s release on bail of Sh7,000, citing the officer’s 29 years of service and willingness to cooperate. The defence added that Talaam voluntarily turned himself in and has agreed to stay away from the station if granted bail.
The prosecution, however, insists it needs the full 21 days to complete forensic reviews and interview additional witnesses. They say no formal charges have been filed yet but are likely depending on what the evidence reveals.
Julius Juma, the lawyer representing Ojwang’s family, supports IPOA’s request. He called the case “a matter of public interest and serious concern.”
Talaam was arrested on 13 June and appeared in court three days later. He is currently being held at Lang’ata Police Station.
Ojwang had been arrested on 7 June following a complaint by Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat, who accused him of making defamatory online posts. Lagat has since stepped aside as investigators dig deeper into the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death.
Meanwhile, four other officers some from Central Police Station and others from Mawego Station in Homa Bay have been questioned. Authorities have not yet decided whether they will be charged or treated as witnesses.
In a separate but related development, a 23-year-old technician is also in custody, accused of disabling CCTV cameras at Central Police Station around the time of the alleged murder. He reportedly received Sh3,000 for the job. He and another suspect, believed to have been inside the cells during the assault, were ordered to be held for 14 days while investigations continue.
“The suspects’ phones have been seized and are undergoing forensic analysis,” IPOA’s Assistant Director of Forensics, Paul Njihia, told the court. He requested that parts of the case be heard in camera due to its sensitive nature a request the court partially granted.
According to IPOA, the technician and his accomplices were trying to erase evidence of what they call a “gruesome murder.”
