Central Police Constable Arrested, To Be Charged With Murder

A police constable attached to the Nairobi Central Police Station has been arrested in connection to the brutal murder of teacher-cum-blogger Albert Ojwang.

Constable James Mukhwana, a former Administration Police Service officer, was arrested by detectives from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) after preliminary investigations linked him to the murder.

Service No. 260950 PC James Mukhwana of Central Police Station was arrested yesterday (12/6/2025). According to the citation, he is to be charged with murder contrary to Section 203 as read with section 204 of the Penal Code following the death of Albert Ojwang.

Earlier, foreign intelligence agencies had recommended to President William Ruto that Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Mohammed Amin and Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat should step aside to avert chaos.

The report was delivered just a day after the United States Embassy called on the government and IPOA to ensure swift, transparent and thorough investigation into the killing of Ojwang.

Lagat had raised complaints against Ojwang for tarnishing his name on social media before he was arrested by police and murdered while in police custody.

“Noting concerns around the circumstances of Ojwang’s death, the Embassy supports calls from government, parliamentarians, and Kenyan citizens for accountability through a transparent investigation,” the embassy said, while calling on the government to ensure IPOA has the access and support needed to perform its duties.

The former National Police Service Commission (NPSC) chairperson Johnston Kavuludi yesterday also said since some of the investigators had worked under Lagat, he ought to have resigned to pave way for investigations. Asked whether NPSC should recommend the interdiction of Lagat, Kavuludi was unequivocal.

All-round condemnation

“Before even you look at the aspect of recommendation in good faith, where there is good manners, there is good hygiene, I would really expect Mr Lagat to say, ‘Okay, I know I am innocent, I want to step aside and give an opportunity to this process to carry on,” he said.

Inspector General of the National Police Service Douglas Kanja had also earlier told senators that every person whose name will be mentioned to have played any role that led to the death of Ojwang must record their statement.

Former Deputy President and DCP party leader Rigathi Gachagua called on Lagat to resign with immediate effect for being the first suspect in the killing of Ojwang.

Speaking in Githunguri town during a meet-the-people tour, Gachagua accused Ruto of protecting Lagat. The sentiments were echoed by Githunguri MP Gathoni wa Muchomba and Kajiado North’s Onesmus Ngogoyo.

Separately, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the killers of Ojwang will not be spared. “If there is anyone who was involved in any way, if there was anyone who sent or ordered the killers to commit the crime, whoever they are, they must face the law.”

Yesterday, at least two vehicles were set ablaze in Nairobi as protests intensified over the death of Ojwang. Youths engaged law enforcement in running battles as police used teargas to disperse the rowdy protesters that paralysed activities within the city centre, especially on Moi Avenue, Kenyatta Avenue, Harambee Avenue and City Hall Way.

The protesters have demanded Lagat’s resignation and some of them, carrying national flags, engaged police as they chanted “Lagat must go”.

George Sedah, the Nairobi region police commander said some criminals had taken advantage of the protests to loot and steal from the members of the public.

In Parliament, IPOA said it will summon Lagat to record a statement over the death. It announced that all the 17 police officers linked to the matter are being treated as murder suspects.

“The officers are persons of interest as they either took part in arresting, transporting and detaining Ojwang,” IPOA said, adding that it was in pursuit of two civilians to record statements over the matter.

IPOA chairperson Issack Hassan told MPs who sit in the committee on Administration and National Security committee that Lagat will be the last person to record his statement after all the other witnesses.

“We are not going to be used as a cover-up. We are going to talk to everyone who was involved with this matter, get all the evidence, and recommend prosecution of anyone who is involved in this death, no matter their station,” he said.

Narok West MP and chair of the parliamentary committee Gabriel Tongoyo told lawmakers that IPOA is preparing to arrest at least three officers linked to Ojwang’s death and is currently engaging the Inspector General (IG) of Police to facilitate the process.

Hassan, who disclosed they have taken statements from 23 individuals out of whom 17 are police offices, disclosed that of the two civilians they are pursuing, one of them is the detainee who was being held at the station and was present on the night Ojwang was taken there and the other one is unidentified person.

“So there are also two civilians who are involved in a different way that we need to also investigate. I cannot give the particulars here. But we also have now made an application,” he said, while urging those at the police station to cooperate with IPOA.

In his brief to the committee, Hassan disclosed that they have taken statements from all the five officers from the DCI and from officers at the central police station who were on duty the night Ojwang was killed.