Former OCS Samson Kiprotich Talaam and five others will remain in custody.
The High Court has declined to release former Nairobi Central Police Station OCS Samson Kiprotich Talaam and five others accused in the murder of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang.
Delivering her ruling at the Kibera Law Courts, Justice Diana Kadveza ordered that the accused remain in custody until witnesses based at the station testify.
She noted that releasing them on bail at this stage would risk interference with key witnesses, many of whom are still serving police officers.
Justice Kadveza highlighted that despite being interdicted, Talaam and his deputy still held significant influence within police circles.
The court further raised concerns over the possible tampering with CCTV footage, ruling that the fears were credible and not speculative.
Although Article 49 of the Constitution guarantees the right to bail, the judge stressed that this right is not absolute and must be weighed against other factors such as justice and public safety.
The defence argued that the prosecution had not produced evidence of any plans to interfere with witnesses or tamper with records.
However, the judge found that public interest and national security concerns outweighed the accused person’s liberty at this stage, given the seriousness of the murder charge.
The killing of Albert Ojwang sparked public outrage and nationwide protests, with many demanding accountability from police officers linked to his death.
The court described the case as one of significant public concern, requiring careful balancing between the rights of the accused and the need for justice.
The court dismissed the bail application, keeping Talaam and his co-accused in custody until police officers scheduled to testify have taken the stand.
