Chief Inspector Samson Taalam, Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Central Police Station, Nairobi, who has been linked to the killing of teacher/Influencer Albert Ojwang’, has been arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts.

Appearing before the Milimani Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi on Monday June 16, 2025, OCS Samson Taalam was, however, not charged with murder as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) filed an application seeking 21 days to continue detaining him at Lang’ata Police Station in order to complete investigations into the murder of Ojwang’.

“We seek that the OCS be held at Lang’ata Police or any other police station within the Republic of Kenya to enable the state through IPOA to continue and complete investigations into the murder of Ojwang,” state prosecutor Victor Owiti told the court.

In an affidavit filed through its Senior Assistant Director of Investigations Abdirahman Jibril, IPOA seeks to continue holding the senior police boss who was arrested on Friday June 13, 2025 on grounds of his suspected involvement in the killing of the social media influencer.

The agency claims that evidence collected so far reveals that OCS Taalam was in constant communication with one of his junior officers, police constable James Mukhwana the cell sentry personnel who held the keys to the cells and thereby had access to where the deceased was detained, and where he was subsequently brutally assaulted and tortured, resulting in his death.

“Preliminary investigations have revealed that the Respondent (OCS Taalam) was highly likely to have been involved in the planning, directing, coordination, and attempted cover-up of the murder of the deceased at Central Police Station,” Jibril told the court.

The DPP, through State Counsel Victor Owiti, further informed the court that interviews with witnesses conducted by IPOA revealed the OCS was in constant communication with people both within and outside Central Police Station immediately, before, during, and after the crime. 

It is suspected that this was mainly for the purpose of planning the brutal assault on the deceased and briefing others on the outcome.

Further, Prosecutor Owiti stated that on June 8, 2025, IPOA investigators found that the CCTV surveillance system installed in the OCS’s office at Central Police Station had been interfered with. 

“OCS together with other officers at the station hired a technician to tamper with CCTV in a bid to conceal evidence of what happened to Ojwang,” the prosecutor stated. 

The DVR power cable was disconnected, and DVR logs indicated that the operating discs had been changed and formatted on June 8, 2025, at 07:28:43 hrs and 07:32:29 hrs.

“Preliminary investigations reveal that there is a high likelihood that the OCS, together with other persons who are at large, organised and facilitated the deliberate cover-up by tampering with the CCTV surveillance system to conceal what had transpired on the night of June 7 and 8, 2025, when the deceased was brutally assaulted and tortured to death, in order to mislead any subsequent investigations into the matter,” officer Jibril told the court.

Further, Prosecutor Owiti said it is believed that the OCS has other accomplices who were involved before, during, and after the gruesome murder of the deceased and who are yet to be apprehended. 

He argued that releasing the respondent would jeopardize their arrests.

“There is a need to ensure that the team of investigators is able to interview all witnesses, who include police officers from the station under the command of the respondent. Hence, the release of the respondent will definitely increase the likelihood of interference,” Owiti informed the court.

The court heard that preliminary investigations have revealed that the co-conspirators acted under the direct control, orders, and influence of the OCS and other officers at Central Police Station.

“Considering the fact that the key persons under investigations are police officers wielding police powers and influence, and have engaged in a complex web of cover-up by employing the blue code of silence, the Applicant requires adequate time to conclude investigations. Hence, the release of the Respondent will increase the likelihood of interference with investigations and witnesses,” officer Jibril stated.

While seeking more time, he stated that he and his team of investigators are yet to record critical witness statements, conduct detailed witness interviews, and obtain crucial reports such as the scene-of-crime report—documents they still need to acquire.

The court further heard that the gruesome murder of Ojwang’ has elicited widespread public anger and outrage, leading to demonstrations which at times have turned destructive. 

As such, the safety and security of the OCS cannot at this point be guaranteed if released on bail.

“Considering how the gruesome murder of the deceased was planned, executed, and the subsequent attempts to cover it up, the Applicant’s team of investigators requires additional time to conduct exhaustive investigations,” Owiti added.