Protected Witness DAN Admits Erasing CCTV Footage at Nairobi Central Police Station
A protected witness testified at the High Court in Kibera on Monday that he was paid to erase CCTV footage from the Nairobi Central Police Station following the death of detainee Albert Omondi Ojwang in June 2025. The trial involves six individuals, including a former station commander, charged with the murder of the teacher and blogger who died while in police custody on the night of June 7, 2025.
Witness Testimony on CCTV Erasure
The murder trial of former Central Police Station Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Samson Kiprotich Talaam and five co-accused entered a critical phase as the prosecution presented testimony regarding the destruction of surveillance evidence. The accused—Talaam, James Mukhwana, Peter Kimani, John Ngige Gitau, Gin Ammitou Abwao, and Brian Mwaniki Njue—have all pleaded not guilty to the murder of Albert Ojwang.
The prosecution team is led by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Jalso Makori, Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Wangui Gichuhi, and Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Duncan Ondimu. A protected witness, referred to as DAN, testified before Justice Diana Kavedza that he had originally installed the station’s CCTV surveillance system in 2024. According to his testimony, he was summoned to the Central Police Station on June 8, 2025, where he was instructed to erase footage captured on June 6 and June 7.
CCTV Technician Aloni Okwako Discovers Formatted DVR at Police Station
The witness stated that he informed those present that the system could not delete footage for only the specified dates and that formatting the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) was the only available option. DAN told the court that after receiving approval, he logged into the system using the records office credentials, confirmed that the footage existed, and formatted the DVR without viewing the recordings. He later identified the DVR and two sealed hard disks as exhibits in the court.
This technical account aligns with testimony from a second prosecution witness, CCTV installation technician Aloni Okwako. Okwako testified that he was called to the station on June 9, 2025, after his employer instructed him to inspect a DVR that had reportedly developed a technical fault. Upon his arrival, officers from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) were already at the station and asked him to assist in retrieving CCTV footage. I found the DVR switched off because the power cable had been disconnected, although the CCTV cameras were still powered on,
Okwako testified. He noted that after opening the DVR, he observed that some internal components had been removed before IPOA officers completed their documentation of the device.
When I checked the system, I found that the DVR had been formatted and there was no footage available for June 6 and June 7,
Okwako told the court.
Financial Payments and Evidence Interference
DPP Renson Ingonga Presents Evidence of Torture and Blunt Force Injuries
The prosecution alleges that the erasure of the footage was a deliberate attempt to conceal evidence of a planned assault. During the opening of the trial, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga asserted that medical evidence would show Ojwang died from blunt force head injuries, neck compression, and multiple injuries across his body. These findings, the prosecution maintains, are inconsistent with initial police claims that Ojwang died after hitting his head against a wall while in custody.
The witness DAN provided further testimony regarding payments he received for his role in the incident. He claimed he was paid Sh3,000 in cash after completing the task of formatting the DVR. Additionally, he testified that he was later instructed to return to the station with two hard disks, though he was subsequently informed they were no longer needed. Despite this, he stated he had already purchased the devices and was paid Sh20,000 in cash for them. According to the witness, he was later informed by a records officer that his contact details had been shared with IPOA, leading to his arrest on June 13, 2025, and the subsequent recording of a statement with investigators.
Justice Diana Kavedza Hears Prosecution Arguments on Concealment Efforts
Prosecutors argued that the deleted footage was of significant interest because it could have helped establish what transpired while Ojwang was in police custody and who was present during the period leading to his death. The prosecution maintains that the deletion of the CCTV footage formed part of a broader effort to interfere with evidence linked to the case. The trial continues before Justice Diana Kavedza, with prosecutors expected to call additional witnesses as they seek to prove that Ojwang was deliberately assaulted and that attempts were made to conceal evidence after his death.
Sources: The Star, Kenyans.co.ke.