Kenya Insights

Tag: Samson Talaam

  • Court Orders IPOA Official to Explain How OCS Talaam’s Phone Was Used for Extortion While in Custody

    Court Orders IPOA Official to Explain How OCS Talaam’s Phone Was Used for Extortion While in Custody

    Defence lawyers allege fraudulent messages were sent from the detained officer’s device, including demands for KSh 80,000 from prominent lawyer

    A Nairobi magistrate has summoned a senior Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) official to court following explosive allegations that a mobile phone belonging to detained Nairobi Central Police Station OCS Samson Talaam has been used to extort money from the public while under official custody.

    Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi on Wednesday ordered Senior Assistant Director of Investigations at IPOA, Abdirahman Jibril, to appear in court on Friday to explain how the device, which was surrendered to investigators on June 16, could have been misused for fraudulent purposes.

    The shocking revelations emerged during court proceedings where Talaam, who is being investigated in connection with the death of Albert Ojwang’, was ordered to remain in custody for 15 days pending investigations.

    Defence lawyer Dunstan Omari told the court that prominent criminal lawyer Cliff Ombeta had received a message from Talaam’s phone number requesting KSh 80,000, purportedly to help “rescue” the detained OCS.

    “Your Honour, we have credible evidence that individuals, including respected lawyer Cliff Ombeta, have received messages from Talaam’s number requesting money. The phone is being used for fundraising with claims that the OCS is in trouble and needs financial help,” Omari argued before the court.

    The defence team revealed that the fraudulent messages appear to be part of a wider scheme, with family members of the OCS also reporting receiving distressing messages from the same number that should have been securely stored by IPOA investigators.

    The allegations have raised serious questions about the security protocols at IPOA, particularly regarding the handling of exhibits in high-profile cases.

    Omari emphasized that both the phone and its password are supposed to be in IPOA’s possession under secure storage conditions.

    “IPOA commissioners are the custodians of that phone and the corresponding passwords. If that phone is being used to swindle Kenyans while under IPOA’s watch, then someone must be held accountable,” the defence lawyer urged.

    The court heard that IPOA had made a “spirited fight” to gain access to the phone, with the defence not objecting to the request in recognition of the authority’s constitutional mandate.

    State Prosecutor Victor Awiti acknowledged the gravity of the accusations, stating that the prosecution could not “outrightly deny these allegations.”

    However, he noted that the investigating officer had confirmed the phone was currently switched off and stored safely.

    Awiti urged the defence to file a formal complaint to enable proper investigation into the matter, while the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is expected to respond to the allegations through IPOA on Friday.

    Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, lawyer Cliff Ombeta confirmed receiving the fraudulent request, expressing shock at the incident.

    “I was shocked. I know the probe is ongoing on the phones of my client the OCS, but when I received a message asking for Sh80,000 to help ‘rescue’ the OCS, I knew something was very wrong. That number should not be in use, let alone for fraud,” Ombeta stated.

    Magistrate Ekhubi took a stern view of the allegations, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability from oversight bodies.

    “These are grave allegations. The integrity of constitutional offices must not be put into question. Mr Jibril must appear before this court to explain how a phone in IPOA’s custody could be used in such a manner,” the magistrate ruled.

    OCS Talaam is currently under investigation following the death of Albert Ojwang’, with the case having attracted significant public attention.

    The phone in question was surrendered to IPOA as part of the ongoing investigation into the incident.

    The defence has indicated it will press for the appearance of senior IPOA officials in court should the explanation from Jibril prove unsatisfactory when he appears on Friday.

    The matter is expected to be mentioned again on Friday, with Mr. Jibril’s anticipated appearance likely to provide crucial insights into how such a security breach could have occurred under IPOA’s watch.

  • Nairobi Central OCS Samson Talaam Arrested in Eldoret Over Ojwang’s Death

    Nairobi Central OCS Samson Talaam Arrested in Eldoret Over Ojwang’s Death

    NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 13 – Nairobi Central Police Station OCS Samson Talam has been arrested in Eldoret after a day-long operation over social media influence Albert Ojwang’s death in custody.

    This brings to three the number of suspects nabbed over the incident that has drawn a lot of public outcry.

    Investigators pursuing him alleged that he had fled in an attempt to evade capture.

    They further stated that he 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.

    Talam is considered a prime suspect after multiple witnesses and suspects implicated him during IPOA’s ongoing investigation.

    Ojwang had been arrested at his home in Homa Bay over allegations of publishing false information. He was transferred to Nairobi, where he was booked at Central Police Station.

    He later died after reportedly being severely beaten while in custody.

    Ojwang’s death has sparked public outrage and renewed scrutiny on police conduct. So far, two other police officers and a technician accused of tampering with surveillance footage have been detained.

  • “It Wasn’t Me”: OCS Taalam Denies Involvement in Ojwang’s Death As Officers Say He Was Brought In Critical Condition

    “It Wasn’t Me”: OCS Taalam Denies Involvement in Ojwang’s Death As Officers Say He Was Brought In Critical Condition

    Central Police Station commander distances himself from blogger’s death while under investigation

    NAIROBI – Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Samson Taalam of Nairobi’s Central Police Station has vehemently denied any involvement in the death of blogger Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody, as officers from his station claim the suspect was already in critical condition when brought to their facility.

    The denial comes as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) continues recording statements from officers at Central Police Station, with tensions escalating between different units of the police service over responsibility for Ojwang’s death.

    Officers Point Fingers at DCI

    Officers from Central Police Station have told IPOA investigators that Ojwang was already in a deteriorating state when he arrived at their facility, seemingly shifting blame to their counterparts from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) who transported the blogger from Homa Bay County.

    “They allege that they made efforts to save his life upon realizing his deteriorating state, seemingly pointing fingers at their counterparts from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), accusing them of bearing responsibility for Ojwang’s death,” according to sources familiar with the investigation.

    The officers claim they took immediate action to rush Ojwang to hospital upon noticing his poor health condition, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

    Taalam’s Defense

    Officer Commanding Station Samson Talaam of Central Police Station
    Officer Commanding Station Samson Talaam of Central Police Station

    OCS Taalam, who recorded his statement at IPOA offices on Wednesday, has maintained his innocence through his lawyer Felix Keaton. Taalam insists he was only summoned after Ojwang had already been booked into custody and found the suspect in poor health upon his arrival.

    “He claimed that upon arrival, he found the suspect in poor health and took the initiative to rush him to hospital,” investigators were told.

    Keaton expressed his client’s willingness to cooperate fully with the investigation, stating that Taalam is “committed to ensuring justice is served.”

    DCI Boss Names Taalam Prime Suspect

    However, Taalam’s denial contradicts statements made by DCI Director Mohammed Amin, who told senators on Wednesday that the OCS should be treated as the prime suspect in the ongoing murder probe.

    During a Senate grilling session, Amin revealed that investigations established Taalam declined to book Ojwang when he was presented at the station, raising serious questions about his conduct.

    “It has further been confirmed that before the booking, the report office personnel called the OCS, and unfortunately, it is being said that he (Taalam) declined to book the suspect,” Amin told the Senate. “Taalam is the Officer Commanding Central Police Station, and from the totality of things, he should be treated as the prime suspect in the matter.”

    Post-Mortem Contradicts Police Report

    The controversy deepened after a post-mortem examination conducted by government pathologist Dr. Bernard Midia contradicted the initial police report claiming Ojwang died after hitting his head against a wall.

    Dr. Midia explained that the pattern of injuries found on Ojwang’s body was inconsistent with self-infliction. “The bleeds that we found on the scalp, on the skin of the head were spaced, including on the face, sides of the head, and the back of the head,” he said, adding that when combined with other injuries spread across the body, “this is unlikely to be self-inflicted injury.”

    Transport from Homa Bay Under Scrutiny

    The case has also raised questions about the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s transfer from Homa Bay, where he was arrested in connection with cybercrime allegations, to Nairobi’s Central Police Station.

    DCI Director Amin defended the transfer, citing the Criminal Procedure Code provisions that allow suspects to be moved across counties depending on the jurisdiction of the offense. He confirmed that Ojwang was transported directly from Homa Bay to Central Police Station without any stops at DCI headquarters.

    “I can confirm without fear of contradiction that from Homa Bay, the suspect was driven straight to Central Police Station and nowhere else. We can technically confirm this even through the GPS system of the Subaru vehicle,” Amin stated.

    Timeline Under Investigation

    Questions continue to mount over the exact timeline of events and the state in which Ojwang was brought into Central Police Station. The case has sparked public outrage and calls for accountability in police custody deaths.

    IPOA is expected to forward its findings to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) with recommendations on whether charges should be brought against the officers involved.

  • DCI Boss Names Central Police OCS as Prime Suspect in Ojwang Death

    DCI Boss Names Central Police OCS as Prime Suspect in Ojwang Death

    Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss Mohammed Amin identifies Officer Commanding Station Samson Talaam as main suspect in custody death of social media influencer

    The Director of Criminal Investigations Mohammed Amin has named Officer Commanding Station Samson Talaam of Central Police Station as the prime suspect in the death of Albert Ojwang, the social media influencer who died in police custody on June 8.

    Speaking before the Senate on Wednesday, Amin revealed that investigations had uncovered troubling circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s booking at the Nairobi station, directly implicating the senior officer in the death.

    “It has been confirmed that before the booking, the report office personnel called the OCS, who declined to book the suspect,” Amin told senators.

    “Talaam is the Officer Commanding Central Police Station, and from the totality of things, he should be treated as a prime suspect in the matter.”

    Officer Commanding Station Samson Talaam of Central Police Station
    Officer Commanding Station Samson Talaam of Central Police Station

    The revelation marks a significant development in the high-profile case that has sparked national outrage and calls for police accountability.

    Ojwang, a teacher and popular social media influencer, was arrested at his home in Homa Bay County on Friday on allegations of cybercrime before being transferred to Nairobi, where he died three days later.

    The DCI boss’s testimony came as a government post-mortem examination contradicted the initial police report claiming Ojwang died after hitting his head against a cell wall.

    Government pathologist Dr. Bernard Midia found evidence of multiple injuries inconsistent with self-infliction.

    “The bleeds that we found on the scalp, on the skin of the head were spaced, including on the face, sides of the head, and the back of the head,” Dr. Midia explained.

    “When we tie this with other injuries that are well spread on parts of the body… this is unlikely to be self-inflicted injury.”

    The pathologist noted that injuries from hitting a wall would typically present with frontal bleeding and a distinct pattern, neither of which were present in Ojwang’s case.

    Controversial Cross-County Transfer

    Amin also defended the controversial decision to transfer Ojwang from Homa Bay to Nairobi, citing the national jurisdiction of cybercrime offenses.

    He dismissed suggestions that a court order was required for the transfer.

    “The ordinary place of trial is determined by where the crime was committed. In this case, we believe the offence was committed in Nairobi, though the arrest happened in Homa Bay,” he explained.

    “We do not require a court order to move a suspect from one police jurisdiction to another.”

    The DCI boss confirmed that Ojwang was transported directly from Homa Bay to Central Police Station in a government vehicle, with GPS tracking verifying the route.

    He noted that the suspect was treated humanely during the journey, even being provided refreshments when requested.

    Deputy IG’s Role Clarified

    DIG Eliud Lagat.
    DIG Eliud Lagat

    Addressing speculation about Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat’s involvement, Amin clarified that Lagat had filed a formal complaint with the DCI following “very serious allegations” made against him online.

    “The complaint by Lagat followed due process, and there was no preferential treatment,” Amin stated. “Throughout our investigation, he never interfered with the investigations whatsoever.”

    Missing CCTV Evidence

    The investigation has been hampered by the absence of CCTV footage from both the arrest location and Central Police Station.

    Amin explained that Magwengo Police Station in Homa Bay, where Ojwang was initially held, is a recently upgraded facility that lacks surveillance systems.

    Questions have also been raised about potential tampering with CCTV systems at Central Police Station, though Amin did not directly address these concerns in his Senate testimony.