The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) asked a court to allow them to detain police officer James Mukhwana for 21 working days as investigations continue into the death of Albert Ojwang.
Ojwang died while in police custody at the Central police station.
In an application filed at the Milimani Law Courts, IPOA said initial findings indicate that Mukhwana, together with other officers yet to be arrested, was involved in the fatal assault on Ojwang’ inside the cells at Central Police Station.
IPOA further alleges a cover-up attempt, claiming that CCTV footage at the station may have been tampered with to conceal the incident.
IPOA asked that the officer held at Capitol Hill Police Station or any other facility as needed, warning that releasing him could compromise the investigation.
IPOA said that there is a need for the officer to secure crucial police documents that are at the Central Police Station.
Mukhwana was arrested on June 12, and IPOA argued that releasing him at this point there would be a likelihood of interfering with the crime scene, evidence including critical documents.
IPOA is also awaiting forensic analysis of mobile phones linked to the suspects and results from the government chemist to aid the probe.
The detectives who had been asked by the IPOA to trace and arrest at least three police officers and two civilians said they were unable to find two of their colleagues.
