Nairobi, Kenya – A police officer stationed at Central Police Station has made explosive claims linking senior police officials to the death of blogger Albert Ojwang, who died in custody under suspicious circumstances.
In a damning statement recorded by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), Constable James Mukhwana alleged that the directive to “discipline” Ojwang came directly from Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat and was transmitted through OCS Samson Talaam.
“There is a directive from DIG Lagat. Do you know him? There are officers from the DCI headquarters bringing a suspect here at 8:00 p.m. Tell the inmates to discipline him a bit,” Talaam allegedly told Mukhwana during a meeting on Saturday, June 7, while Mukhwana was on shift.
Mukhwana said he questioned the instruction, asking, “What if it goes wrong?” to which the OCS allegedly responded with a threat.
Later that evening, around 9:00 p.m., a black Subaru delivered a handcuffed man — later identified as Ojwang — to the station. Mukhwana confirmed the identity with Talaam and booked him at 9:20 p.m.
According to Mukhwana, Ojwang was then placed in a cell near the toilets, where four inmates — Collins Ireri, Gil Ammiton, Brian Mwaniki, and Erick Ndambuki — were allegedly instructed to carry out the beating. As the assault escalated, Mukhwana and fellow officer PC Kimani intervened and found Ojwang bleeding and slumped against the wall.
“I immediately asked the Deputy OCS, Samuel Nganga, to take Ojwang to hospital at around 10:00 p.m., and I left for home,” Mukhwana recounted.
The following morning, Sunday, June 8, Mukhwana received frantic calls from colleagues. When he contacted Nganga, he was referred back to Talaam, who downplayed the incident.
“Things are not bad. We are safe,” Talaam reportedly told him.
By Wednesday, June 11, the gravity of the situation had intensified, and Mukhwana was summoned by IPOA to provide a statement. He admitted that his initial account was false and designed to shield his colleagues. Feeling that he was being turned into a scapegoat, Mukhwana returned to IPOA the following day to give a truthful statement.
He was arrested on Thursday, June 12, and is currently held at Capitol Hill Police Station.
“This is the truth of what happened. Ojwang was not meant to be killed but to be disciplined as per instructions of the OCS Talaam, who was under the instruction of DIG Lagat. I am sorry for the death of Ojwang. May God help them to heal the loss. I know it is painful,” Mukhwana said in his statement.
Mukhwana, who served as the cell sentry on the night of Ojwang’s detention, was arraigned before Milimani Magistrate Robinson Ondieki on Friday, June 13. The magistrate granted IPOA’s request to detain Mukhwana until June 20, when the matter will be revisited.
The revelations have intensified public pressure on authorities to ensure justice for Ojwang, whose death has sparked national outrage.
