In a dramatic twist in the investigation into the brutal murder of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang at Nairobi’s Central Police Station, the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has made a strategic move to secure critical testimony by turning Deputy OCS Samuel Nganga and the technician implicated in tampering with CCTV footage into state witnesses. This development, emerging from the high-profile case that has sparked nationwide outrage, signals a bold push to unravel the conspiracy behind Ojwang’s death and hold those responsible accountable.
Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old educator and digital content creator, died on June 8, 2025, hours after being detained at Central Police Station following his arrest in Homa Bay. His death, marked by a post-mortem revealing blunt head trauma, neck compression, and severe bruising, has been described as a chilling case of police brutality. The case has drawn intense scrutiny, with public protests and calls for justice echoing across Kenya. Central Police Station’s Officer Commanding Station (OCS), Samson Talam, is the primary suspect, accused of orchestrating the fatal assault and subsequent cover-up. However, the DPP Renson Ingonga’s decision to leverage Nganga and the technician as state witnesses could shift the trajectory of the investigation.
According to court documents and sources close to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), Deputy OCS Samuel Nganga, who was on duty during the night of Ojwang’s death, has provided a detailed statement implicating Talam. Nganga’s testimony, corroborated by Police Constable James Mukhwana, alleges that Talam issued direct orders for Ojwang to be “disciplined” on instructions from higher authorities, reportedly linked to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Eliud Lagat. Nganga’s account details how he was summoned to Talam’s office on June 7, 2025, around 7:30 p.m., where the OCS relayed the orders, citing a “special assignment.” Nganga’s cooperation with IPOA, secured through a plea deal, positions him as a key witness to expose the chain of command behind the assault.
Equally pivotal is the testimony of the technician, whose identity remains undisclosed for safety reasons. The technician, arrested on June 13, 2025, admitted to being paid KSh 3,000 to delete CCTV footage from June 6 and 7, critical dates in the investigation. Court filings reveal that the technician was contacted by a senior officer, allegedly Talam, and instructed to format the station’s digital video recorder (DVR). The DPP alleges that Talam, as the custodian of the station’s surveillance systems, orchestrated this act to obstruct justice. By granting the technician immunity in exchange for testimony, the DPP aims to establish a direct link between Talam’s actions and the cover-up attempt.
This strategic move by DPP Ingonga underscores the complexity of the case, which involves 23 individuals, including 17 police officers and six civilians, under investigation. The decision to turn Nganga and the technician into state witnesses reflects a calculated effort to dismantle the alleged conspiracy from within. Legal experts suggest that their testimonies could provide irrefutable evidence of Talam’s role in both the assault and the subsequent tampering of evidence, potentially implicating higher-ranking officials. However, Talam’s defense, led by lawyer Danstan Omari, vehemently denies these claims, asserting that Talam was not at the station during the incident and is being framed.
More to follow.
