OCS Talaam remanded at Industrial Area Prison until July 30
Kibera High Court has ordered Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Samson Kiprotich Talaam, Police Constable Peter Kimani, John Ngige Gitau, Gin Ammitou Abwao, and Brian Mwaniki Njue be remanded at the Industrial Area Prison.
Justice Kavedza on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, ordered Talaam and the four other accused of killing blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang to remain in prison pending a pre-bail report to be availed in court before she can deliver her ruling on their bail application.
Further, the court ordered that, while in prison, all the accused be escorted for mental assessment for the purpose of establishing whether they are fit to stand trial.
“I hereby direct the 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 accused persons to be remanded at Industrial Area Prison remand, while the second accused is to be detained at Capitol Hill Police Station until July 30, 2025, pending a pre-bail report,” Justice Kavedza ruled.
However, Justice Kavedza directed that Police Constable James Mukhwana be detained at Capitol Hill station following a request by the state to complete investigations against him over the murder of Ojwang.
“We urge the court to issue an order to have Mukhwana be detained separately at Capitol Hill Police station and enable the investigators to finalize pending investigations into the matter,” the DPP told the court.
Charges
The Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) charged the six with the murder of teacher and blogger Albert Omondi Ojwang, contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code, Cap 63 Laws of Kenya.
“The court is hereby informed by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions on behalf of the Republic that the above-named accused persons are charged with murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code,” part of the court documents read.
According to the DPP, the accused, jointly with others not in court, are said to have committed the crime on the night of June 7, 2025, and June 8, 2025, between 9:30 PM and 2:00 AM at the Central Police Station within Nairobi County.
Appearing before Kibera High Court Lady Justice Diana Kavedza on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, the three police officers and three civilians pleaded not guilty to murder charges, and a plea of not guilty was entered.
The defence lawyers, led by Danstan Omari, who is representing the first accused, OCS Talaam, urged the court to release them on reasonable bond or bail terms.
However, the DPP, through Principal Prosecution Counsel Victor Owiti, vehemently opposed the release of the accused on bail, stating that they might interfere with witnesses linked with the crime.
The state also told the court that it should not release the accused on bail due to the seriousness of the offence, which attracts a death penalty, and thus the accused should remain in police custody.
Further, the prosecution argues that the first three accused persons, who are police officers, are likely to interfere with the evidence since they are attached to the Central Police Station, where the murder is said to have taken place.
In support of his argument, Prosecutor Owiti said that the CCTV footage at the Central Station had already been tampered with and releasing it might lead to more interference with evidence and witnesses.
“We urge this court to detain the accused in custody pending the hearing and determination of their trial until key witnesses in the matter testify, as there is a likelihood of interference once freed on bail,” the DPP submitted in court.
The court will rule on the bail applications on July 30, 2025.
