The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has approved murder charges against Central Police Station OCS Samson Talaam, Police Constables James Mukhwana and Peter Kimani, and three others over the death of Albert Ojwang while in police custody.
In a statement issued on Monday, DPP Renson Ingonga confirmed that the decision followed the conclusion of investigations and submission of case files by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
“Following the directive, IPOA submitted the inquiry file to my office on June 22, 2025, for perusal and legal guidance. Upon receipt, I immediately constituted a team of senior prosecutors to conduct a comprehensive review,” read part of the statement.
“After careful examination of the evidence, I have approved murder charges against six individuals, including police officers Samson Kiprotich Talaam, James Mukhwana, and Peter Kimani.”
The six suspects are currently appearing before the Kibera High Court to answer to murder charges, contrary to Section 204 of the Penal Code, Cap. 63 of the Laws of Kenya, following the DPP’s approval of their prosecution.
The suspects are said to have assaulted Ojwang while in custody at the Central Police Station, Nairobi, leading to his death on June 8.
The developments come after the High Court on Wednesday last week ruled that Talaam be detained for 15 days to allow police to complete their investigations into Ojwang’s case. The OCS was arrested on June 13 in Eldoret.
Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi, during the trial ruling, said that the prosecution had presented compelling reasons to warrant the denial of bail.
Two days before the development, the DPP had accused the embattled Taalam of paying a technician to delete CCTV footage linked to the death of the blogger.
Appearing before the Milimani Law Courts, the DPP, through legal counsel, accused the OCS of interfering with crucial evidence in the ongoing investigation into the teacher's death.
This was after it emerged that a technician was paid Ksh3,000 to delete the crucial footage that is said to be important in piecing together what happened to the blogger while in police custody. It was not immediately made public who paid for the deletion of the CCTV footage.
However, the prosecution on Monday last week claimed that Taalam, as the custodian of station records and surveillance systems, allegedly contracted the technician to tamper with the CCTV footage at the station in what is believed to be a deliberate attempt to obstruct justice.
The OCS has, however, in different court sessions, maintained that he was not involved in the circumstances surrounding the death of the blogger.
