Constable James Mukhwana remanded for 21 days pending investigations into Albert Ojwang's murder
According to IPOA, preliminary investigations reveal that Mukhwana, was likely involved in the planning and the execution of the brutal and fatal assault of Ojwang inside the cells at Central Police Station.
Police Constable James Mukhwana, a prime suspect in the murder of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, has been detained for 21 days pending investigations.
Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Robinson Ondieki ruled that he was convinced the case is of public interest and warrants limiting the rights of the respondent.
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"The train of technology has taken off, and it’s not coming back. The case is already taking shape. The notice of motion of June 3 succeeds in total, the respondent shall be held in custody for 21 days, including working days and weekends", Magistrate Ondieki ruled.
The court also noted that in the IPOA affidavit, Eliud Lagat complained against Ojwang, and DCI assigned the case to the special crime department.
Ojwang was arrested at his father’s home in Homabay, taken to Mawingu Police Station and later to Central Police Station, where he was booked in and later found dead in the cells.
He was taken to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead and taken to mortuary.
In a miscellaneous application filed before court, IPOA, through its senior assistant director of investigations, Abdirahaman Jibril says it is investigating the case of the murder of Albert Ojwang contrary to section 203 as read with section 204 of the Penal Code.
According to IPOA, preliminary investigations have revealed that Mukhwana, together with other persons who are still at large, was likely involved in the planning and the execution of the brutal and fatal assault of the deceased inside the cells at Central Police Station.
The investigating officer has said that Mukhwana was the one in custody of the keys to the cells on the day of the incident, and it is believed he may help with investigations.
"Investigations also revealed that Mukhwana and other suspects at large were likely involved in a deliberate cover-up by tampering with CCTV footage at Central Police Station", the court was told on Friday.
Mukhwana, a police officer attached to the Central Police Station, where the murder allegedly took place, was arrested on June 12, 2025 and booked at Capitol Hill Police Station.
IPOA submitted that unless the police officer is placed in custody, he is very likely to interfere with witnesses, the crime scene, custody records and other documentary evidence.
Further, the Oversight Authority told the court that there is a need to secure crucial police documents that are at the Central Police Station.
They said that they needed to subject Mukhwana's mobile phone to forensic analysis.
According to IPOA, Albert's murder is of grave public importance and the interest of Justice and the dictates of the rule of law that Mukhwana is detained to allow the completion of independent and impartial investigations.
The Authority also cited that the matter has elicited considerable public anger and outrage, and therefore, the suspect's safety may be imperilled if he is released on bail.
On June 8, 2025, IPOA found that the CCTV system had been interfered with, the DVR power cable had been disconnected, and the logs indicated that the operating discs had been changed and formatted on the same day at 07:28:43 hours and 07:32:29 hours.
Mukhwana, therefore alleged to have organised the tampering of the CCTV footage.
However, Lawyers Danstan Omari, Stanley Kinyanjui and Sophie Nekesa opposed the application, saying that there were no sufficient grounds provided by the prosecution and the IPOA to warrant the detention of Mukhwana.
Lawyer Omari further said that the areas submitted by the IPOA as crucial areas for investigations, including retrieval of CCTV, forensic analysis of the suspect's phone, and other documents allegedly to be obtained from Central Police Station, do not necessarily require Mukhwana in police custody.
Mukhwana has been remanded at Capitol Hill police station.
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