The lawyers representing Nairobi Central Officer Commanding Station (OCS), Samson Kiprotich Talaam, have raised alarm in court over suspicious activity involving his phone. During a court session before Milimani Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi, the legal team, led by prominent lawyers Danstan Omari and Cliff Ombeta, revealed that they and some of Talaam’s family members had received text messages from Talaam’s mobile number requesting money.
The defence expressed grave concern over the implications of such messages, especially considering that Talaam is currently under investigation and his phone was reportedly seized as part of the evidence. The lawyers stated that the matter had already been reported at the Lang’ata Police Station and urged the court to take immediate steps, including summoning the Senior Assistant Director of Investigations from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), to clarify the situation.
They emphasized the urgency and seriousness of the issue, stressing that any interference or manipulation involving exhibits in a public interest case undermines the integrity of the ongoing investigations. The legal team urged for swift action and transparency to ensure accountability and prevent any compromise in the judicial process.
In response, state prosecutor Victor Owiti acknowledged the seriousness of the claims but stated that the prosecution was not in a position to confirm or deny the allegations at that point. He assured the court that investigations into the issue would begin without delay. Prosecutor Owiti confirmed that Talaam’s phone had been confiscated for investigative purposes and was believed to be in secure custody.
He further stated that upon receiving the complaint, they contacted Officer Jibril, the IPOA investigator assigned to the case, who responded by confirming that the phone was currently switched off and in the lab for forensic analysis. Owiti argued that it would be illogical and contrary to procedure for a senior officer like Jibril, or any member of IPOA, to use the phone of an accused officer to solicit money especially from the very legal representatives involved in the matter.
Nonetheless, he assured the court of the prosecution’s commitment to maintaining the credibility of the judicial process and upholding public trust. To address the concerns raised, Magistrate Ekhubi issued an order requiring Officer Jibril to appear in court on Friday, June 20, 2025. His appearance is expected to provide clarity on the custody and use of Talaam’s phone and to determine whether there has been any breach in protocol or potential tampering with evidence.
