Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Samson Kiprotich Talaam, alongside Police Constable Peter Kimani, John Ngige Gitau, Gin Ammitou Abwao, and Brian Mwaniki Njue, has been remanded at the Industrial Area Prison until July 30, 2025. The ruling, made by the Kibera High Court, follows their arraignment on charges of murdering blogger and teacher Albert Omondi Ojwang.
The court directed that the five accused individuals be held in remand while a pre-bail report is prepared to determine whether bail will be granted. The sixth accused, Police Constable James Mukhwana, will be held separately at Capitol Hill Police Station. This decision was made following a specific request by the prosecution to facilitate the completion of investigations against him.
All the accused are required to undergo mental assessment while in custody to determine their fitness to stand trial. They face a murder charge under Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code of Kenya, which stipulates that anyone found guilty of murder is liable to the death penalty.
The charges stem from an incident that allegedly occurred during the night of June 7 to June 8, 2025, between 9:30 PM and 2:00 AM, at the Central Police Station in Nairobi. According to the prosecution, the accused, jointly with others not before the court, were involved in the murder of Ojwang at the said location.
During their appearance in court, all six accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. Defense lawyers, led by counsel for OCS Talaam, applied for their clients to be released on bail, citing constitutional rights to bail unless compelling reasons are shown.
However, the prosecution strongly opposed the release of the accused. The Principal Prosecution Counsel argued that the seriousness of the offence warranted continued detention. The state expressed concern that the accused, particularly the police officers, might interfere with evidence or intimidate witnesses, especially since the crime allegedly took place at their station of deployment.
The prosecution further informed the court that CCTV footage from the Central Police Station had already been tampered with, pointing to the potential for additional interference if the accused were to be released. They emphasized that securing witness testimony before granting bail would be essential to preserving the integrity of the trial.
The judge directed that all matters regarding the accused’s bail status would be considered once the pre-bail report is submitted. The ruling on the bail application is scheduled for July 30, 2025. Until then, the accused will remain in custody, as the legal process continues to unfold.
