DCI granted 2 weeks to probe IPOA over Talaam’s phone
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has requested the court to grant them more days to complete the probe over a claim that Nairobi Central Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Samson Talaam’s phone, which is under investigation, was used to solicit money from his lawyer and family.
Appearing before Milimani Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi, the officer investigating the matter, Inspector Moses Antheli, told the court that he is investigating a possible case of access to the OCS phone contrary to Section 14(1) of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.
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The officer told the court to grant them 14 more days to get a comprehensive report on the matter.
“Your honor, in regard to the status of the matter, we have not yet completed the investigations, and we are humbly requesting 14 days to come up with a comprehensive report,” Antheli told the court.
Magistrate Ekhubi granted the DCI the requested days and urged all the parties in the case to exercise patience and allow the investigative team to do its work.
“We grant you the 14 days, but also, as just a precaution to all, let us leave it to the able team to do the investigations,” Ekhubi directed.
On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, OCS Talaam’s lawyers informed the court that lawyer Cliff Ombeta and some other family members had received messages from Talaam’s number asking for money.
They also informed the court that they had reported the matter at Lang’ata Police Station and called for an expedited investigation on the same.
Further, they urged the court to summon the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) Senior Assistant Director of Investigations in charge of the matter to shed light on their claim.
“What we pray for, your honour, apart from the summons, is expedited investigations so as to protect the integrity of the investigations,” OCS Talaam’s lawyers told the court.
In response, state prosecutor Victor Owiti said that the allegations are serious and that they were not ready to deny or confirm them at that time, stating there was a need for investigations to be done on the same.
However, prosecutor Owiti confirmed that Talaam’s phone was taken from him for investigations, and it is in safe custody.
“As we speak now, we believe, and we have no reason to doubt, that the phone and any other exhibit in relation to this matter have been properly kept in safe custody,” prosecutor Owiti told the court.
He also informed the court that they had quickly texted Officer Jibril, informing him of the raised concern, who responded, stating that no one has the phone; it is switched off and in the lab.
Lawyer Owiti told the court that it beats logic that a senior investigator at the level of Jibril would request Ksh80,000 using the same phone of the respondent (OCS Talaam) and, moreover, from his lawyers.
“What I am saying, your honour, without doubting my colleagues and without doubting the IPOA, is that it will beat common sense for whoever it is to take on such a public interest matter, the phone of a respondent (Talaam) in the level of OCS, and request his counsel, among many others, to ask for Ksh80,000,” lawyer Owiti told the court.
On June 20, 2025, IPOA, through the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), informed the court that they have already written to the DCI to commence the investigations on the matter.
Appearing before Milimani Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi, DPP, through Principal Prosecution Counsel Victor Owiti, told the court the investigations on the issue raised by OCS Talaam’s lawyers were commencing immediately.
“Your honour let us allow the DCI detectives to investigate these grievous allegations made by the defense lawyers against IPOA officials,” Prosecutor Owiti told the court.
Magistrate Ekhubi warned the DPP and IPOA not to interfere with the investigations and let the DCI do their work.
“Let you IPOA and DPP not interfere with investigations, and take this matter with the seriousness it deserves,” Magistrate Ekhubi directed.
The matter will be mentioned on July 22, 2025, for further directions.
