Nairobi Police Boss, 5 Officers Charged with Blogger Ojwang’s Murder

Six individuals, including a station commander, face murder charges in connection with the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang', who died in police custody in early June. 

Central Police Station commander Samson Talaam, constables James Mukhwana and Peter Kimani, alongside John Ngige Gitau, Gin Ammitou Abwao, and Brian Mwaniki Njue, are formally accused of Ojwang's murder. They appeared at the High Court in Kibera, where plea-taking was deferred after it was discovered that two of the accused lacked legal representation. Justice Diana Kavedza instructed the deputy registrar to secure counsel for the unrepresented suspects.

Ojwang' was arrested on 7 June at his home in Homa Bay County and transported to Nairobi. After reportedly being interrogated at the DCI headquarters, he was booked at Central Police Station. By the early hours of 8 June, he was discovered unresponsive in his cell, covered in blood. Medical personnel pronounced him dead at Mbagathi Hospital.

A post-mortem examination, conducted on 10 June, revealed blunt force trauma to the head, compression of the neck, and widespread bruising indicators of a sustained, violent assault. According to an affidavit submitted by Abdirahman Jibril of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the assault appeared "orchestrated." The affidavit alleges Mukhwana was in constant communication with individuals both inside and outside the station during the critical hours.

The circumstances surrounding Ojwang's arrest stem from a complaint filed by Deputy Inspector-General of Police Eliud Lagat, concerning allegedly defamatory online posts. Lagat has since stepped aside as civil society groups and the public demand accountability. The charge sheet specifies that the six officers acted "jointly with others not before the court" in causing Ojwang's death.