NAIROBI — A Kenyan court has declined to release on bail six men, including two police officers, accused of murdering blogger Albert Ojwang inside Nairobi Central Police Station.
The ruling delivered on Tuesday by Justice Diana Kadveza keeps the group in custody until key witnesses give evidence.
Former Nairobi Central Police Station commander Samson Kiprotich Talaam, Constable James Mukhwana, and four civilians — Peter Kimani, John Ginge Gitau, Gin Ammitou Abwao, and Brian Mwaniki Njue — are charged with jointly killing Ojwang on the night of June 7th and 8th this year.
Justice Kadveza said there were “real fears” the accused could interfere with witnesses, many of whom are police officers. She added that concerns raised by prosecutors were not speculative. “The possibility of tampering with CCTV footage and undermining investigations is a genuine risk,” she said.
The judge noted that although Talaam and Mukhwana had been interdicted, their influence within the police service remained significant. “The gravity of the offence of murder coupled with the high profiles of the accused increase the likelihood of absconding trial,” the court observed.
The defence argued that no evidence had been presented to show attempts to intimidate witnesses or alter records. But Justice Kadveza ruled that public interest and national security outweighed the accused men’s personal liberty at this stage.
Ojwang’s killing sparked protests across Nairobi and other towns, with civil society groups accusing the police of silencing dissent. The government promised a thorough investigation, and rights organisations have continued to press for accountability.
While Kenya’s Constitution guarantees bail under Article 49, Justice Kadveza reminded the court that the right is not absolute. “The application for bail is declined at this stage until witnesses based at Nairobi Central Police Station have testified,” she said.
The six accused will remain in custody as the trial proceeds, with hearings expected to resume later this year.
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