NAIROBI, Kenya – Nairobi Central Police Station OCS Samson Talam is being held under tight security at Lang’ata Police Station over fears he could be harmed while in custody following the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang’ in police cells.
Talam, who previously served as deputy OCS at the same Lang’ata facility, is now in a reversed role — guarded by officers who were once his juniors.
Sources say police leadership ordered restricted access to him amid concerns “someone mischievous” could harm him, with the blame then shifted to the service.
Only family members and his legal team have been allowed visitation.
His lawyer Danstan Omari said Talam was in “good spirits” ahead of his scheduled court appearance on Monday.
The officer was arrested on Friday, although his legal team insists he voluntarily presented himself.
Another female police officer linked to the death was also traced and questioned at length on Friday.
FATAL ASSAULT AND CCTV TAMPERING
Ojwang’ was arrested in his Homa Bay home over allegations of false publication, transported to Nairobi, and detained at Central Police Station, where he was allegedly beaten to death in the cells. He died on June 7 — just hours after his arrest.
Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which is leading investigations, has arrested two police officers, including Constable James Mukhwana, and a civilian technician believed to have tampered with CCTV footage from the station in an apparent cover-up.
The technician, who had installed the surveillance system, allegedly confessed to being called in to erase the footage on June 8, a day after Ojwang’s death. He reportedly admitted to deleting the recordings for a payment of Sh3,000.
Mukhwana was arraigned and is being detained for a week as investigations continue.
IPOA told the Milimani Law Courts that preliminary findings indicate he was directly involved in the assault, alongside other officers who are yet to be arrested.
SILENCE AND SUSPICION AT MBAGATHI
New CCTV footage from Mbagathi Hospital has added another disturbing layer to the case, revealing how Ojwang’ was left unattended in a police van for over 20 minutes after arrival.
The 40-minute footage shows a police Land Cruiser arriving at 1:35 am on June 8.
Officers lingered outside the casualty area, speaking on their phones and delaying any attempt to seek medical help.
When two of them eventually returned with a stretcher, it took nearly 10 minutes to place Ojwang’ on it and move him into the hospital.
He was finally admitted at 1:59 am — 24 minutes after arrival. Ten minutes later, doctors confirmed he was dead on arrival.
The hospital report indicated he had no heartbeat, his body was cold, and he had visible injuries including facial swelling and a cut at the back of his head.
By 2:10 am, police had wheeled his body out of the hospital and later transferred it to City Mortuary, where it was received and identified by his family.
MULTIPLE AGENCIES INVESTIGATING
Apart from IPOA, the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) of the National Police Service is also probing the conduct of officers involved in Ojwang’s arrest, detention, and the subsequent handling of his body.
IPOA is awaiting forensic analysis of mobile phones linked to the suspects, as well as results from the Government Chemist, to aid in the investigations.
Ojwang’s death has triggered public outrage, especially among human rights activists and Kenya’s vocal Gen Z population, who accuse the state of systematically silencing dissent and using law enforcement to clamp down on critical voices.
The family of Ojwang’ has demanded justice, while several lawmakers have called for the resignation of senior police commanders and a complete overhaul of the Central Police Station leadership.
