Albert Ojwang: Nairobi OCS Talaam detained for 15 days

Nairobi Central Police Station OCS Samson Talaam has been detained for 15 days to allow police to complete investigations into the murder of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody.

Trial Magistrate BenMark Ekhubi on Wednesday ruled that the prosecution had presented compelling reasons to warrant the denial of bail.

He noted that Talaam, holding the rank of Chief Inspector and commanding the largest police station in Kenya, has a wide network and could potentially interfere with investigations.

The Prosecution and IPOA team had on Monday applied to be given 21 days, citing the complexity of the exercise.

The court also noted that, with 29 years of service, he had established networks across the country and could potentially invoke the ‘blue code of silence’ to cover up.

The defence also informed the court that the OCS’s phone number, which is currently in the custody of investigators, was used to send messages to certain individuals and family members, soliciting money and claiming that the OCS was in a deep crisis and urgently needed financial assistance.

The court has summoned IPOA investigator Abdirahman Jibril to appear on Friday, June 20, to explain.