2 men who were at Central Police cell arraigned over Albert Ojwang’s murder
Two men who were at the Nairobi Central Police cell have been arraigned at the Kibera Law Courts over Albert Ojwang’s murder on Monday, June 16, 2025.
Gin Ammitou and Collins Karani are linked with assaulting the late teacher and blogger at the Central police station.
The Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA) was seeking to detain Gin at the Muthangari Police Station and Karani at Kileleshwa Police Station for 21 days.
Gin and Karani are said to have been in lawful custody at the Central Police Station and linked with the offence of preparation to commit a felony, vide miscellaneous application, but were subsequently released from the station on June 11, 2025, after the death of Albert.
According to a miscellaneous application lodged at the Kibera Law Courts, the two, with others not before the court, are suspected to have participated in assaulting the deceased inside the Central police station cell.
“Brief evidence gathered so far, the respondents (Gin and Karani) and others still at large are said to have participated in the brutal fatal assault of the deceased while inside the cells at the Central police station,” part of the application read.
DNA samples
IPOA also stated that, based on the samples collected at the scene (Central Police Station), there was a need to escort the two to the government chemist to extract DNA samples for forensic examination.
Through an affidavit by Principal Investigations Officer attached to IPOA Justin Nyatete, he stated that if the two are released at this stage, they might interfere with the ongoing investigations since some of their accomplices, said to have been involved in the gruesome murder of Albert, are still at large.
Notably, Officer Nyatate argued that the preliminary investigations reveal that Gin and Karani acted under the direct orders, control, behest, and/or on the orders of the officer-in-charge and other officers at the Central Police Station.
Further, he cited that considering the fact that the key persons under investigation are police officers wielding police powers and influence who have engaged in a complex web of cover-up by employing the blue code of silence, they (IPOA) require adequate time to conclude investigations; hence, the release of the respondents will increase the likelihood of interfering with investigations and witnesses.
Kibera Law Courts Magistrate Daisy Mutai, on Monday, June 16, 2025, detained the two for 14 days instead of the 21 days sought by IPOA.
“I find that there are compelling reasons that require that the respondents (Gin and Karani) in this case be detained for a longer period,” Magistrate Mutai ruled.
However, she ordered that their lawyers and family members be allowed to access them while in custody.
Gin and Karani were arrested on June 14, 2025, at the Nairobi Central police station and were booked at Muthangari and Kileleshwa police stations, respectively.
The matter will be mentioned on July 7, 2025, for further directions.
