DCI to probe IPOA over OCS Talaam’s phone
The Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is set to start investigations over a claim that Nairobi Central Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Samson Talaam’s phone, which is under investigation, is being used to solicit money from his lawyer and family.
This is after the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), through the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), informed the court that they have already written to the DCI to commence the investigations on the matter.
Appearing before Milimani Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi, DPP, through Principal Prosecution Counsel Victor Owiti, told the court the investigations on the issue raised by OCS Talaam’s lawyers should commence immediately.
“Your honour let us allow the DCI detectives to investigate these grievous allegations made by the defense lawyers against IPOA officials,” Prosecutor Owiti told the court.
Magistrate Ekhubi warned the DPP and IPOA not to interfere with the investigations and let the DCI do their work.
“Let you IPOA and DPP not interfere with investigations and take this matter with the seriousness it deserves,” Magistrate Ekhubi directed.
Talaam’s lawyers, led by Danstan Omari and Cliff Ombeta, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, informed the court that Ombeta and some other family members got messages from Talaam’s number asking for money.
They also told the court that they had reported the matter at Lang’ata police station and called for an expedited investigation on the same.
Further, they urged the court to summon the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) Senior Assistant Director of Investigations in charge of the matter to shed light on their claim.
“What we pray, your honour, apart from the summons, is expedited investigations so as to protect the integrity of the investigations,” OCS Talaam’s lawyers told the court.
In response, state prosecutor Victor Owiti said that the allegations are serious and that they were not ready to deny or confirm them at that time, stating there was a need for investigations to be done on the same.
However, prosecutor Owiti confirmed that Talaam’s phone was taken from him for investigations, and it is in safe custody.
“As we speak now, we believe and we have no reason to doubt that the phone and any other exhibit in relation to this matter has been properly kept in safe custody,” prosecutor Owiti told the court.
He also informed the court that they had quickly texted Officer Jibril, informing him of the raised concern, who responded, stating that no one has the phone; it is switched off and in the lab.
Lawyer Owiti told the court that it beats logic that a senior investigator at the level of Jibril would request Ksh80,000 using the same phone of the respondent (OCS Talaam) and, moreover, from his lawyers.
