DPP Charges OCS Talaam, 5 Others Over Albert Ojwang Murder
DPP Renson Ingonga confirmed that the charges were approved after the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) completed its investigations and submitted the case files.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has given the green light for murder charges to be filed against Central Police Station OCS Samson Talaam, Police Constable James Mukhwana, and four others in connection with the death of Albert Ojwang while in police custody.
In a statement released on Monday, June 23, DPP Renson Ingonga confirmed that the charges were approved after the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) completed its investigations and submitted the case files.
"On 10th June 2025, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), pursuant to Article 157(4) of the Constitution of Kenya and Section 5(2) of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act, Cap. 6B, directed the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Albert Omondi Ojwang," the statement read in part.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga speaking at the launch of the NCAJ anti-corruption strategic guiding framework for Kenya’s justice sector on March 25, 2025. /ODPP
"Following the directive, IPOA submitted the inquiry file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) on 22nd June 2025 for perusal and legal guidance. Upon receipt, the DPP immediately constituted a team of senior prosecutors to undertake a comprehensive review of the file. Consequently, the DPP has approved murder charges against six individuals."
Also charged include Police Constable James Mukhwana, Peter Kimani, John Ngige Gitau - Gin Ammitou Abwao and Brian Mwaniki Njue.
The six suspects are currently appearing before the Kibera High Court to face murder charges, in line with Section 204 of the Penal Code, Cap. 63 of the Laws of Kenya, following the Director of Public Prosecutions' (DPP) decision to proceed with their prosecution.
They are accused of assaulting Albert Ojwang while he was in custody at the Central Police Station, leading to his death on June 8.
This follows a ruling by the High Court last Wednesday ordering the detention of OCS Samson Talaam for 15 days to allow investigators to complete inquiries into Ojwang’s death. Talaam was arrested on June 13 in Eldoret.
During the hearing, Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi denied Talaam bail, citing strong arguments presented by the prosecution justifying his continued detention.
Just two days earlier, the DPP had accused Talaam of attempting to cover up the incident by paying a technician to erase CCTV footage tied to Ojwang’s death.
In submissions before the Milimani Law Courts, the DPP’s legal team claimed that Talaam had interfered with critical evidence related to the ongoing probe into the death of the blogger, who was also a teacher.
According to the prosecution, the technician received Ksh 3,000 to delete the surveillance footage believed to hold key details of what transpired while Ojwang was in police custody.
Although the identity of the person who paid for the deletion was initially unclear, prosecutors alleged that Talaam—being responsible for the station's records and surveillance systems—personally arranged for the footage to be tampered with in a deliberate attempt to obstruct justice.
IPOA had previously confirmed that the interdicted OCS was a person of interest in the case, as the oversight authority revealed that Ojwang died inside a Central Police Station jail cell.
His arrest came after Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin stated that Taalam should be deemed the prime suspect in the murder of Ojwang.
