Lawyer Danstan Omari has dismissed rumours circulating on social media that Central Police Station OCS, Mr. Taalam, was arrested in Eldoret.
Speaking to the press outside Lang’ata Police Station, Omari clarified that his client was not arrested but voluntarily presented himself at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters in Nairobi. This followed statements made in Parliament by DCI Director Mohamed Amin, who named Taalam as a person of interest in an ongoing investigation.
According to Omari, Taalam, accompanied by his lawyer Mr. Keaton, arrived at the DCI offices at 2:00 PM on Friday.
Upon arrival, DCI officers were instructed to hand him over to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
At IPOA offices, Taalam recorded a statement before being transferred to Lang’ata Police Station. However, his booking at the station reportedly triggered a standoff. Omari explained that DCI officers could not book him as they are not the official investigators in the case, and IPOA officers lacked the legal authority and police credentials to do so.
The impasse lasted about an hour until IPOA’s investigating officer, Mr. Jibril, finally booked Taalam into custody an action Omari described as raising serious statutory and constitutional concerns that will be addressed in court.
Omari confirmed that Taalam is being treated well and has not been mistreated. He added that Taalam is ready to face his accusers in court.
The lawyer also pledged to issue a detailed account of events surrounding the late Albert Ojwang from the time he was booked at Central Police Station to when his death was confirmed at Mbagathi General Hospital.
