AfriPulse
The High Court will begin the trial into teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang’s death on March 17, 2026, marking a significant moment in a case that has captured national attention and put Kenya’s police conduct under intense scrutiny.
Justice Diana Kavedza, who is handling the case, issued clear pretrial directions to keep things moving. She instructed prosecutors to present their witnesses over five consecutive days, with roughly five witnesses testifying each day, so the court can wrap up the trial within a reasonable time.
Though prosecutors plan to call 28 witnesses, Justice Kavedza pushed them to trim that number wherever they can. She suggested that both sides agree to admit some evidence without testimony, which would speed things up and prevent unnecessary holdups.
The trial kicks off on March 17, with more sessions on March 23 when three witnesses will testify, and March 24, when five additional witnesses will take the stand.
Prosecutors told the court they’ll present protected witnesses during the first two days. Prosecutor Christine Timoi said five witnesses will testify on opening day.
“For the first two days, we shall be calling protected witnesses.”
Justice Kavedza ordered prosecutors to reveal the protected witnesses’ identities to the court while keeping security measures in place to protect them throughout the trial.
The judge also directed prosecutors to give the accused hard copies of all witness materials, while defense lawyers will get digital versions to help them prepare properly.
During the hearing, the court learned about delays involving critical digital evidence. Lawyers explained that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) had struggled to find enough storage space for CCTV footage tied to the case. But IPOA confirmed it secured the necessary storage on Monday afternoon, January 26, 2026.
IPOA said its investigators were reviewing the footage and would share it with all parties by end of business on Tuesday, January 27.
Albert Ojwang died on June 8, 2025, while in police custody. His death triggered public outrage, street protests, and fresh demands for accountability within the National Police Service. Former Nairobi Central OCS Samson Talaam and five others now face charges connected to his death and will stand trial in the High Court.
Police reportedly arrested Ojwang in Homa Bay County after Kenya’s deputy police chief Eliud Langat complained about a social media post he made. Officers then transferred him to Nairobi’s Central Police Station, where he died in custody.
At first, police said Ojwang took his own life by banging his head on a wall. But a post-mortem exam told a different story. Doctors found blunt force injuries, neck compression, and multiple wounds to soft tissue. The medical findings showed these injuries didn’t match suicide – they pointed strongly to assault before his death.
As the trial date draws closer, human rights groups, civil society organizations, Kenyans at large and Ojwang’s family are watching closely. They see this case as a crucial test of whether anyone will be held accountable for deaths in police custody. The High Court proceedings should reveal more about what happened during Ojwang’s final hours and establish who bears responsibility for his death.
Source: NairobiWire.com | Read the Full Story…
