Samson Talaam, the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Nairobi’s Central Police Station, has been given more time to decide whether he will pursue an inquest into the death of blogger Albert Ojwang.
Talaam, who is among six officers charged over Ojwang’s death in police custody on June 8, had moved to the High Court asking that the matter be handled through a judicial inquest rather than a criminal trial.
He argues that a full inquiry would better uncover the truth, calling the current prosecution process premature.
Appearing before the court on Wednesday, Talaam’s lawyer, Danstan Omari, said most of the requests in their petition were no longer relevant and that they would need to consult their client before choosing a path forward.
“We’re seeking to have the matter mentioned on Friday, so we can get instructions from our client. Once we do, we will advise on the next course of action,” said Omari.The court accepted the request and scheduled the case for mention on July 4. That is when it will be confirmed whether Talaam plans to proceed with the inquest or withdraw the petition altogether.