Witness Guides Court Through Central Police Station CCTV in Albert Ojwang Murder Case
Footage played in open court showed PC Kimani at several points inside the station, including the main entrance and the corridor leading to the cells.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Lilian Chemutai
A protected witness on Tuesday led the High Court through CCTV footage from Nairobi Central Police Station, as prosecutors seek to reconstruct events on the night teacher and blogger Albert Omondi Ojwang died in custody.
Testifying before Justice Diana Kavedza at the Kibera High Court, the witness provided a step-by-step analysis of surveillance video recorded on June 7 and in the early hours of June 8, 2025, the period during which Ojwang was detained at the station.
The witness identified Police Constable Peter Kimani as the officer assigned as cell sentry at the time. Footage played in open court showed PC Kimani at several points inside the station, including the main entrance and the corridor leading to the cells.
The prosecution asked the witness to explain standard operating procedures for a cell sentry. He told the court that the sentry is the sole officer responsible for controlling who enters and leaves the cell block. Under procedure, access is limited to investigating officers, newly booked suspects, and persons delivering food to detainees. The sentry, he said, is mandated to deny entry to unauthorized persons and is held accountable for any incident that occurs inside the cell area during his duty.
The court also viewed clips showing two unidentified men approaching the station entrance and speaking to PC Kimani before walking further inside the premises. The witness stated that the two individuals have not been positively identified and their purpose at the station remains unclear.
To assist the court, the witness mapped out the station’s CCTV network, explaining the field of view for each camera. The system covers the main entrance, the report office area, internal corridors and the access route to the detention cells. The prosecution said the footage is critical in establishing the movement of personnel and visitors inside the station around the time of Ojwang’s detention.
The CCTV presentation comes after earlier testimony in which the court heard allegations that footage from June 6 and 7, 2025, had been deleted and that the station’s Digital Video Recorder was formatted on June 8. A technician had previously testified that he was paid to format the DVR. Those allegations form part of the prosecution’s case that there was an attempt to interfere with evidence. The defence has not yet cross-examined on these claims in detail.
Six people are charged with the murder of Ojwang: former Central OCS Samson Kiprotich Talaam, Constables Peter Kimani and James Mukhwana, and civilians John Ngige Gitau, Gin Ammitou Abwao and Brian Mwaniki Njue. They have all denied the charges.
The trial continues, with the prosecution expected to call more witnesses to corroborate the CCTV timeline.
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