The death of a police officer who was expected to be a key witness in the Albert Ojwang murder case has raised fresh questions over the prosecution’s evidence as the trial enters a critical stage.
Corporal Stephen Maina Nderitu died at his Nairobi home on Monday, September 7, hours after leaving work.
A post-mortem examination attributed his death to acute ulcers and cardiac arrest. His family said it was satisfied with the findings, with his burial scheduled for September 18.
Nderitu was on duty at Nairobi Central Police Station when Ojwang died in police custody on June 7, 2025. He was reportedly among the officers with information about the alleged tampering of CCTV footage linked to the case.
Before his death, Nderitu had recorded a statement with investigators detailing information concerning the chain of accountability at the station. Prosecutors are expected to ask the court to admit the statement as evidence despite his death.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) had lined up 28 witnesses in the case. Prosecutors allege that Ojwang was tortured and strangled while in custody and that CCTV footage at the police station was deleted.
Samson Talaam, who was the Officer Commanding Station at Nairobi Central Police Station at the time, is among those facing murder charges.
Six other witnesses have since been placed under protective custody following concerns over possible interference with the prosecution’s case.
The hearing is expected to resume in December.
