Constable Mukhwana based at Nairobi’s Central Police Station has implicated senior officers in the death of blogger Albert Ojwang’, offering a chilling account of events that unfolded before the incident.
In a sworn statement recorded by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), Constable James Mukhwana alleged that orders to “discipline” Ojwang’ originated from Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat and were relayed to him through his then-boss, Central Police Station OCS Samson Talaam.
According to the officer, he was summoned to the OCS’s office during his shift on Saturday, June 7, where Talaam reportedly told him:
“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 claims he questioned the instruction and expressed concern about potential consequences, but was met with threats should he fail to comply.
Later that evening, at around 9:00 p.m., a black Subaru pulled up at the station with a handcuffed man—later identified as Albert Ojwang’. Mukhwana said he confirmed with the OCS that this was the suspect in question, before booking him into the station at 9:20 p.m.
Ojwang’ was then locked in a cell near the station’s toilets. It was there, Mukhwana said, that four inmates—identified as Collins Ireri, Gil Ammiton, Brian Mwaniki, and Erick Ndambuki—launched a violent attack on the blogger, allegedly under orders.
Mukhwana said that, together with fellow officer PC Kimani, he intervened after discovering Ojwang’ bleeding and slumped against the wall. He alerted Deputy OCS Samuel Nganga, who took the victim to hospital around 10:00 p.m. Mukhwana said he then left for home.
The following morning, on Sunday, June 8, he received worried calls from colleagues. When he sought clarification, Nganga directed him to speak with Talaam, who reassured him:
“Things are not bad. We are safe.”
However, the situation escalated by midweek. On Wednesday, June 11, Mukhwana was summoned by IPOA to give a formal statement. He initially gave a false account, admitting later that he did so to protect his colleagues.
But on Thursday, June 12, Mukhwana returned to IPOA and recorded a second statement—this time confessing what he said was the truth.
“Ojwang’ was not meant to be killed but to be disciplined, as per instructions of OCS Talaam, who was acting under instructions from DIG Lagat,” Mukhwana stated.
“I am sorry for the death of Ojwang’. May God help his family heal. I know it is painful.”
Mukhwana, who served as the cell sentry the night Ojwang’ was detained, was arrested shortly after recording his second statement and detained at Capitol Hill Police Station.
On Friday, June 13, he was arraigned before Milimani Magistrate Robinson Ondieki, who granted IPOA’s application to detain him until June 20 pending further investigations.
The revelations come amid growing pressure on the police command, following the stepping aside of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat to allow a probe into the case
