The family of Nairobi Central Police Station OCS Samson Talam has firmly denied reports that he was arrested while attempting to evade authorities. In a statement released to newsrooms, the family clarified that Talam voluntarily surrendered to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), fully cooperating with ongoing investigations into the death of Albert Ojwang in police custody.
“OCS Talam voluntarily surrendered himself to the DCI, demonstrating full cooperation with the ongoing process,” said Tony Koskei, a relative of the officer. The family emphasized that Talam was not on the run and that Eldoret where he was reportedly “nabbed” is his official and well-known residence.
At the time of Ojwang’s death, Talam was reportedly off duty. The family dismissed claims that he had gone into hiding or switched off his mobile phone to avoid arrest, clarifying that he remained accessible and was only briefly unreachable due to an overwhelming number of inquiries.
“He was receiving several phone calls and remained accessible throughout. If at any moment his phone was off, it was only to avoid numerous calls from people inquiring about the incident,” Koskei added.
Ojwang was arrested in Homa Bay on allegations of publishing false information. He later died under unclear circumstances while in custody at the Nairobi Central Police Station. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) is leading investigations into the incident.
So far, 23 individuals—including 17 police officers and six civilians—have been questioned either as suspects or witnesses. Among them is a technician who admitted to being paid Sh3,000 to delete CCTV footage from the night of Ojwang’s death.
Ipoa has been granted permission to hold Constable James Mukhwana for seven more days, citing the risk of witness interference and tampering with evidence. Mukhwana and other yet-to-be-arrested officers are suspected of being involved in the fatal assault and an alleged cover-up.
Talam is currently in lawful custody and is expected to appear in court on Monday. His family has urged the public and media to verify facts and avoid spreading misinformation, emphasizing the importance of factual reporting in the pursuit of justice.
