The Officer Commanding Station of the Central police station Samson Taalam, police constable James Mukhwana and another suspect will spend in police custody in connection with the death of blogger Albert Ochieng Ojwang while in police custody as investigation intensifies.
Talaam was arrested after a day-long manhunt ended in Eldoret, the DCI confirmed, alleging that he had fled in an attempt to evade capture.
Authorities said Talam had switched off his mobile phone on Thursday as officers closed in on him.
He was eventually located, arrested, and handed over to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) for further processing.
IPOA was also granted permission to detain James Mukhwana, after investigating officer Abdirahman Jibril argued that releasing Mukwana at this stage could jeopardize the investigation, claiming he may interfere with witnesses.
Meanwhile, detectives tasked by Ipoa to arrest three other police officers linked to Ojwang’s murder said they have been unable to trace them.
“They have switched off their mobile phones and we can’t find them for now. We are, however, optimistic to find them for justice,” said one official aware of the operation.
At least 23 people, including 17 police officers, have been questioned thus far.
Speaking to the media, IPOA CEO Elema Halake has confirmed that there are no interference in the ongoing investigations as they work to zero in the killers of Ojwang
The President on Wednesday June 11 condemned the death of social media influencer and teacher Albert Ojwang’ in the hands of police officers and asked the National Police Service (NPS) to “eradicate misconduct and unprofessional behaviour within its own ranks.”
“I therefore call on the National Police Service … to take every necessary measure to facilitate a swift, transparent, and credible investigation into the death of Ojwang,” the President said.
Ojwang was arrested in Homa Bay on Saturday, June 7, and transported to Nairobi’s Central police station following a complaint by Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat that he had tarnished his name in a social media post.
Autopsy examination revealed that he was tortured and strangled to death while in police custody.
The death sparked national and international condemnation, with mounting calls for Lagat to resign.
IPOA is also seeking a court order to compel Safaricom to release subscriber information, call records, and location data for at least 17 mobile phone numbers believed to be linked to the case.