The murder case involving former Central Police Station OCS Samson Talaam and five other police officers has been put on hold by the High Court, stopping the trial before it could properly begin.
The court ruled that the case cannot move forward until missing CCTV footage from the police station is accounted for, saying the recordings are too important to ignore. Without that footage, the judge said it would be impossible to guarantee a fair trial for both the accused officers and the family seeking justice.
The case is linked to the death of Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher and blogger who died in police custody in June 2025. Ojwang had been arrested over a social media post and was found dead in a police cell the following day.
Police officers initially claimed that he died after hitting his head against a wall, suggesting suicide. That explanation quickly came under question after an autopsy conducted by government pathologists gave a very different account of what happened.
According to the autopsy report, Ojwang suffered blunt force trauma, signs of neck compression, and deep internal bruising. These injuries were consistent with a violent assault and not self-harm.
The pathologists concluded that Ojwang had been killed. This medical evidence directly conflicted with the police version of events, raising serious concerns about what really happened inside the cell that night.
At the center of the case is the missing CCTV footage from Central Police Station. Investigations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority revealed that the CCTV system was deliberately interfered with. Power cables were disconnected, and the Digital Video Recorder was formatted on the morning Ojwang’s body was discovered.
Meshach Ojwang. Photo Courtesy | TNX Africa
A technician was arrested and is reported to have said he was instructed to delete specific footage, but when that failed, he wiped the entire system. As a result, there is no visual record of Ojwang’s final hours in custody.
The absence of this footage has fueled claims of a cover-up. Ojwang’s family and human rights activists believe the destruction of the CCTV was meant to protect those responsible.
Attention has also turned to Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat.
Some reports suggest he may have been linked to decisions around Ojwang’s arrest or the handling of the case after his death. Activists have even attempted to initiate a private prosecution against him.
Ojwang’s father has openly accused the Director of Public Prosecutions of shielding senior officers, while Lagat has maintained that he cannot be forced to face charges over the death.
In halting the trial, the High Court said the missing CCTV footage is a critical piece of evidence, describing it as a silent witness that could help explain the gap between police statements and medical findings. The next pre-trial mention has been set for January 27, 2026.
For Ojwang’s family, the delay brings mixed feelings. They see the decision as a sign that the court is taking the matter seriously, but it also extends their wait for answers.
