A junior officer’s confession has blown the lid off a deadly conspiracy inside Nairobi’s Central Police Station, implicating senior police commanders in a brutal assault that led to the death of blogger Albert Ojwang.
By Mitchell Anne Adhiambo, Kakamega
A chilling confession from Constable James Mukhwana has unraveled the harrowing final hours of Albert Ojwang, a Kenyan blogger and teacher who died while in custody at Nairobi’s Central Police Station.
What began as a murky case of alleged defamation has erupted into a national scandal implicating top police officials and exposing systemic abuse in Kenya’s law enforcement ranks.
Initially silent, Mukhwana broke his silence after securing witness protection, claiming he had been “set up” and acted under orders from his superior, Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Samson Talam.
According to his sworn statement, Talam directed him to ensure Ojwang was “disciplined” – a euphemism that has taken on brutal connotations.
Ojwang, who had been arrested on June 7 in Kakoth village, Homa Bay County, following a complaint by Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat, was transported to the station around 9:00PM in a black Subaru.
His arrest stemmed from social media posts accusing Lagat of corruption, claims the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission later dismissed as unfounded.
“There is a directive from DIG Lagat. Do you know him? There are officers from DCI headquarters bringing a suspect here at 8:00 p.m. Tell the inmates to discipline him a bit,” Mukhwana quoted OCS Talam as saying.
Shortly after Ojwang was booked at 9:35 p.m., Mukhwana alleges he was paid Ksh2, 000 to orchestrate an assault inside the holding cells. He says he used the money to buy alcohol for four inmates, Collins Ireri, Gil Ammiton, Brian Mwaniki, and Erick Ndambuki — before instructing them to attack Ojwang.
The attack, reportedly lasting 30 minutes, left Ojwang with catastrophic injuries.
A post-mortem by Government Pathologist Dr. Bernard Midia revealed extensive soft tissue damage, signs of strangulation, and severe head trauma, contradicting initial police claims that Ojwang had simply fallen and hit his head.
“There is a directive from DIG Lagat. Do you know him? There are officers from DCI headquarters bringing a suspect here at 8:00 p.m. Tell the inmates to discipline him a bit,” Mukhwana quoted OCS Talam as saying.
Mukhwana, expressing remorse, said the beating was never meant to be fatal. Yet the fallout has been swift and far-reaching. DIG Lagat, under intense pressure, has stepped aside to allow investigations to proceed, though his decision is seen by many as a tactical move to avoid accountability.
Protests have erupted in Nairobi’s Central Business District, with activists and political leaders demanding Lagat’s resignation and prosecution. “This is not discipline — this is murder,” read one protestor’s placard.
Ojwang was pronounced dead at 1:31 a.m. on June 8 at Mbagathi Hospital, just hours after being found unconscious in his cell. His family, devastated and resolute, is demanding full prosecution of all involved.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched a sweeping investigation that has already led to multiple arrests.
These include OCS Talam, Constable Mukhwana, three prisoners, three civilians allegedly hired to aid in the assault, and a technician accused of deleting CCTV footage in exchange for a Ksh3, 000 bribe.
IPOA has since recovered fragments of the footage, which could be crucial in the ongoing probe.
Meanwhile, two more officers who were on duty that night remain at large.
