The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has filed a court application seeking to detain Nairobi Central Police Station Officer Commanding Station (OCS), Samson Taalam, for 21 days as investigations into the murder of blogger Albert Ojwang intensify.
According to court documents, IPOA wants Taalam held at Lang’ata Police Station, or any other facility within the country, as detectives pursue leads in the case linked to Ojwang’s suspected murder while in police custody.
The application, supported by an affidavit sworn by Senior Assistant Director of Investigations Abdirahman Jibril, states that IPOA is handling Inquiry No. IPOA/INV/476/2025 into Ojwang’s death. The deceased is believed to have been fatally assaulted inside Nairobi Central Police Station cells.
Taalam was arrested on June 13, 2025, by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers and subsequently handed over to IPOA, before being booked at Lang’ata Police Station under OB No. 50/13/6/2025 at 6:05 p.m.
The court was told that preliminary evidence points to Taalam and other suspects—still at large—as having allegedly directed, coordinated, and attempted to conceal the fatal attack.
IPOA further disclosed that Taalam’s mobile devices, seized during the arrest, are yet to undergo forensic analysis. The authority is now seeking orders to examine these electronic gadgets as part of its investigation.
Arguing that the time elapsed since the arrest has not been adequate for comprehensive investigations, IPOA asked the court to grant the 21-day detention period to ensure the integrity of the ongoing probe.
The ruling on the detention application is expected in the coming days.
Written By Rodney Mbua
