Court detains person of interest in OCS’s Talaam’s phone fraud
A Milimani Court has detained Kiprotich Ronoh Brian, a person of interest in SIM swap fraud, over Nairobi Central Police Station’s Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Samson Kiprotich Talaam’s phone for seven days.
Kiprotich, who is linked in a scheme of soliciting money through the police boss’s phone, was arrested on July 20, 2025, in Pipeline area within Nairobi County, and arraigned in court on Monday, July 21, 2025.
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His arrest and arraignment came after Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and OCS Talaam lodged a complaint at Lang’ata Police Station under OB No. 31/18/06/2025.
Lawyers representing OCS Talaam in the murder of blogger and teacher Albert Omondi Ojwang case, had told the court that his phone, which was under IPO, was being used to solicit money.
On June 18, 2025, lawyer Cliff Ombeta told court that he and some of Talaam’s family members had received messages from the accused person’s phone number, which was with IPOA for investigations over the murder of Ojwang, asking for Ksh80,000.
This prompted Milimani Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi to order the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) probe who could have used the gadget to ask for money.
14 days detention
Upon Kiprotich’s arrest and arraignment, prosecution was seeking to detain him for 14 days to complete investigations on several serious cybercrime offences before charging him.
Appearing before Magistrate Caroline Mugo, Investigative Officer Nickson Kiunga told court that Kiprotich was at the center of a sophisticated scheme to defraud Talaam’s lawyers and family.
According to officer Kiunga’s affidavit, Kiprotich is accused of conducting a SIM swap operation on the former OCS’s number, which was seized by IPOA as an exhibit on June 15, 2025, over the murder of Ojwang.
“This is a case of unauthorised interception, computer fraud, identity theft, and engaging in organised criminal activity citing sections of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act No. 5 of 2018 and the Prevention of Organized Crimes Act,” officer Kiunga stated in a sworn affidavit.
Officer Kiunga also reveals that during the arrest, they found him with multiple mobile phones, used and unused SIM cards, and electronic storage devices, all of which investigators say are vital to the ongoing digital forensic analysis.
He urged the court to detain him, citing high likelihood he has associates and he strongly believes if released, he could interfere with evidence, witnesses, or evade justice.
Further, he informed court that the investigation team is awaiting Call Data Records (CDR) and subscriber information tied to the swapped SIM card to establish the extent of the scam.
Magistrate Mugo granted the DCI seven days to detain Kiprotich in custody.
“Considering seriousness of the charges and the need for unimpeded investigations I hereby detain the respondent (Kiprotich) for seven days,” Magistrate Mugo directed.
