The murder trial of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang resumed on Tuesday at the Kibera High Court, with prosecutors presenting CCTV footage that captured his final moments before detention at Nairobi Central Police Station. According to testimony by Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) forensic investigator Joshua Mutua, the footage shows Ojwang arriving at the station at approximately 9:23 pm on June 7, 2025. Mutua told the court that Ojwang appeared calm and responsive, was seen using his phone, and spent several minutes at the report office before being escorted to the police cells.
The court also heard that the police station’s CCTV system had been tampered with. Investigations revealed that the power cable had been disconnected and the system’s hard drives were formatted the following morning. Despite this, forensic experts managed to recover large amounts of footage, which were later verified using specialized tools.
In earlier proceedings, a protected witness identified Police Constable Peter Kimani as the officer on duty as the cell sentry on the night in question. The witness explained that the sentry is responsible for controlling access to the cells and is accountable for activities within the cell block. CCTV clips shown in court captured Kimani at different locations within the station, including near the cells and at the main entrance.
During the hearing, the witness also pointed out two unidentified individuals who were seen interacting with PC Kimani at the station’s entrance before proceeding inside. Their identities remain unknown, raising further questions as the prosecution attempts to piece together the events of that night.
Footage from multiple cameras installed within the station was presented to help establish movements of officers and other individuals during Ojwang’s detention. The prosecution is relying on this evidence to reconstruct the timeline leading up to Ojwang’s death, which they allege occurred after he was assaulted while in custody.
Former Nairobi Central Police Station OCS Samson Talaam, alongside Police Constables Peter Kimani and James Mukhwana, as well as three civilians, have been charged with Ojwang’s murder. All the accused have denied the charges, and the trial is ongoing.
