Two men who allegedly beat up Albert Ojwang to death at the Central Police station were today arraigned before a Kibera court and detained for 14 days to allow police conclude investigations.
Ginn Ammitou and Collins Karani were arraigned before Magistrate Daisy Mutai where police sought for 21 days to detain them but the court allowed only 14 days.
IPOA through Justine Nyatete had asked court for time saying the the two were arrested for allegedly inflicting serious harm on Ojwang while with him in the cells.
Nyatete said that they need time to record statements from the two before they are released from custody.
It was her further argument that if released will interfere with the investigations and witnesses who are yet to record their statements.
Nyatete also told court that if released, locating them would be an uphill task since they don’t have a known place of abode.
However, through their lawyer Ezera Nguono, they opposed the application saying the death of the blogger was linked to police officers and not his clients whom he said were civilians and had been booked at the police station after appearing at Milimani court for a miscellaneous application case.
He claimed that the two had been at the station and released on Wednesday but they were arrested on Thursday when they went to the station to collect a vehicle belonging to one of them which had been detained at the station.
Ngueno went on to say that the two were not flight risks and would attend court whenever requited to and also cooperate with investigators.
In her ruling, Magistrate Mutai said 14 days was more reasonable saying she would not grant them bail as their security was in danger if released.
She also said she considered the submission by IPOA that it needed those days so that police can get DNA samples of the accused to the government chemist for test and also have more police officers linked to the killing arrested and record statement.
The magistrate further allowed the suspects lawyers to be given access to their clients while they were in detention.
They will be detained for 14 days however, if investigations are completed before the 14 days, the parties can present themselves in court for more directions
Ammittou will be held at Muthangari Police Station while Karani will be held at Kileleshwa Police Station also in Nairobi.
The case will be mentioned on July 7.
