A police officer who was a key witness in the murder case involving Albert Ojwang has died before giving evidence.
Stephen Maina Nderitu, who was attached to the Office of the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) during the period surrounding Ojwang’s death.
His death follows the footage that was played during the second day of the murder trial and captured police officers, civilians and other individuals moving around the station before Ojwang was eventually carried out of the cells and taken to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Witness in Ojwang’s Case Dies
According to the investigation, Nderitu had recorded a statement on May 18, detailing sensitive information about events at the station.
In opening its case before the High Court, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said it would rely on police officers involved in Ojwang’s arrest and transfer, forensic experts and CCTV specialists to reconstruct events inside the station.
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The investigators also said that surveillance footage at the police station was tampered with after Ojwang’s death.
Prosecution Links Case to Central Police Station
Ojwang died in June 2025 after being arrested and taken to Central Police Station in Nairobi.
The prosecution has since alleged that Ojwang entered the station alive and died after an unlawful assault while in custody.
It has further told the court that the medical evidence would contradict the initial explanation that Ojwang sustained fatal injuries after hitting his head against a wall while detained.
The State’s case is against former Central Police Station OCS Samson Talaam and five other accused persons. The prosecution alleges that the accused were involved in the assault and subsequent efforts to conceal what had happened.
The accused have denied the murder charges. The case remains before the High Court, with the prosecution expected to call witnesses and present forensic evidence in support of its allegations.
How Nderitu Died Before Testifying
A post-mortem examination has cited acute ulcers, cardiac arrest and depression among the causes of his death.
The prosecution has said its evidence will seek to reconstruct Ojwang’s movements inside Central Police Station and establish whether surveillance footage was tampered with after his death.
Ojwang’s Final Moments Inside Central Police Station
Albert Ojwang’s final hours at Central Police Station were marked by a series of movements between the report office, holding bay and cells before his motionless body was eventually carried out of the station.
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CCTV footage presented during the murder trial shows Ojwang arriving at the station in a black SUV at 9:17pm on June 7, 2025.
The CCTV footage shows several officers and other individuals entering and leaving the cell area. Some police officers are also captured changing from their uniforms into civilian clothing.
At about 10:56pm, one individual is seen emerging from the cell area with what appears to be blood on his hand. Shortly afterwards, another person is captured carrying what appears to be a rope.
As midnight approached, activity around the cells increased. Officers, including some wearing gloves, were seen moving into and out of the area that would later be treated as the crime scene.
At around 1:20 am, Several officers were seen carrying Ojwang’s motionless body out of the cell area. They placed him in a police Land Cruiser and drove him to Mbagathi Hospital.
Ojwang was later pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital, bringing to an end a night whose events are now central to the murder trial.
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