Central Police Deny Torture Claims as DCI Pins OCS in Albert Ojwang Death

By
Makanya Francis
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The mysterious death of blogger and influencer Albert Ojwang while in police custody has taken a dramatic new turn, with officers from Nairobi’s Central Police Station distancing themselves from the incident and pointing fingers at their counterparts in the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

The officers, including the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Samson Taalam, have recorded statements with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), denying any role in the alleged torture and subsequent death of Ojwang.

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The Central Police officers claim that Ojwang was already in critical condition when he was brought into their custody, suggesting that the responsibility lies with the DCI team that transferred him from Homa Bay to Nairobi.

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“We Found Him Unwell” – OCS Taalam Speaks Out
OCS Taalam, who on Wednesday appeared before IPOA investigators accompanied by his lawyer Felix Keaton, insisted that he was only summoned after Ojwang had already been detained.

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He claimed that upon assessing the blogger’s condition, he personally ordered that Ojwang be rushed to Mbagathi Hospital—where he was declared dead on arrival at 1:39 am.

“I had no role in the arrest or the condition in which Ojwang arrived. My priority was to save a life,” Taalam is quoted to have told IPOA investigators through his legal counsel, reiterating his full cooperation with the ongoing probe.

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Despite his claims, serious questions remain about why Ojwang was booked at the station in a visibly unwell state. Sources within the station previously indicated that he was bleeding and listed as “sick” in the Occurrence Book, a detail that has fueled further public outrage.

DCI Boss: Taalam is the Prime Suspect
Meanwhile, DCI Director Mohamed Amin has placed the spotlight squarely on OCS Taalam, saying the senior officer should be treated as the “prime suspect” in the unfolding murder probe.

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Appearing before the Senate on Wednesday, Amin contradicted the OCS’s narrative, saying the Central Police boss declined to officially book Ojwang when he was first presented at the station on Saturday night.

“It has been confirmed that before the booking, the report office personnel contacted the OCS, who unfortunately declined to admit the suspect. From the totality of things, he should be treated as the prime suspect,” Amin told senators during a heated grilling session.

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Ojwang’s Timeline Under Scrutiny
Amin also dismissed earlier reports suggesting that Ojwang’s 26-hour journey from Homa Bay to Nairobi was marred by delays and mistreatment.

According to him, Ojwang was picked up in Homa Bay on Saturday afternoon, booked at Mawego Police Station at 4:00 pm, and then transferred directly to Central Police Station in Nairobi, where he arrived at 9:32 pm.

He said GPS tracking had verified the movement of the DCI Subaru vehicle used in the transfer, and that Ojwang appeared “normal” upon entry, with no signs of visible distress captured in digital records.

“The suspect was placed in the cells while appearing normal… He even had the opportunity to speak to his wife,” Amin claimed, further adding that Ojwang was offered refreshments during a stopover in Narok.

However, these claims sharply contradict earlier reports that described Ojwang as being in a dire state on arrival, bleeding and unable to speak coherently.

IPOA to Submit Report to DPP
As the internal blame game intensifies, IPOA is now in the final stages of compiling its findings, which will be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for possible action.

The agency has promised a thorough and impartial investigation into the events leading to Ojwang’s death—a case that has struck a nerve across the country and triggered fresh demands for justice and police accountability.

The public continues to call for transparency, with pressure mounting on both the Interior Ministry and investigative agencies to hold those responsible to account.

Editor’s Note: Follow FMFIX Hub for continuous updates on the Ojwang murder case and broader issues surrounding police accountability in Kenya.

| @fmfixhub on X and Facebook

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