The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Nairobi Central Police Station OCS Samson Talam has been placed under enhanced security measures while in custody amid concerns that he could be targeted or harmed in connection with the controversial death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang.
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Talam is currently being held at Lang’ata Police Station, where he ironically once served as a deputy OCS five years ago. Some of the officers guarding him today are his former juniors.
His lawyer, Danstan Omari, said Talam was in good spirits ahead of his expected court appearance on Monday.
Security sources revealed that police authorities had restricted access to Talam in his holding cell, allowing only his legal team and close family members to visit. This decision was reportedly made over fears that someone with malicious intent could attempt to harm him and frame the police service for it.
Police confirmed that Talam was arrested on Friday, although his lawyers maintained he had voluntarily surrendered. A female officer also linked to the case was interrogated for hours on the same day.
Talam’s defense argues he was off duty at the time of the alleged assault. However, both civilian and police witnesses have placed him at the scene, suggesting he visited the area during the incident.
Ojwang was arrested in Homa Bay on allegations of publishing false information and transferred to Nairobi, where he was booked at Central Police Station. He died on June 7, just hours after his detention, allegedly after being brutally assaulted.
In connection with the case, two police officers and a technician accused of interfering with the station’s CCTV system are also in custody. Investigators say the technician, who had initially installed the system, was paid KSh 3,000 to delete footage that may have captured the incident. He reportedly confessed to the act.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has also detained officer James Mukhwana for a week as investigations continue. IPOA claims Mukhwana and others still at large participated in the assault that led to Ojwang’s death and attempted to cover up the incident by tampering with surveillance footage.
Investigators are now awaiting results from forensic analysis of mobile phones belonging to the suspects and a report from the Government Chemist.
Meanwhile, newly released hospital CCTV footage has raised further questions about police conduct in Ojwang’s final moments. The 40-minute video from Mbagathi Hospital shows police arriving at 1:35 am on June 8 with Ojwang in a Land Cruiser. Despite the urgency implied by his condition, officers delayed seeking medical assistance for nearly 25 minutes.
Two officers were seen entering the hospital to get help only at 1:40 am and returned with a stretcher six minutes later. It took them another 10 minutes to move Ojwang into the facility, where he was admitted at 1:59 am.
Medical personnel declared him dead 10 minutes later, stating he was unresponsive, had no pulse, and showed signs of physical trauma, including swelling, facial injuries, and a deep cut on the back of his head.
By 2:10 am, the body was wheeled out and transferred to City Mortuary, where it was later identified by his family.
Both the Internal Affairs Unit and IPOA continue to investigate the circumstances of Ojwang’s arrest, detention, and death.
