By Valentine Omondi

The second day of the murder case of teacher and blogger Albert Omondi Ojwang was dominated by chilling CCTV footage, digital forensic evidence, and testimony surrounding the movements of two unidentified men whose appearance inside Nairobi Central Police Station has become a major focus of the prosecution’s case.

As proceedings resumed before Justice Diana Rachael Kavedza at the Kibra High Court, prosecutors continued piecing together what they described as the final moments leading to Ojwang’s death while in police custody. The day’s hearing largely revolved around surveillance footage recovered by investigators from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which prosecutors argue contradicts the initial police account that Ojwang died from self-inflicted injuries.

The courtroom remained silent as recovered CCTV footage was projected before the court, with prosecutors taking witnesses through various clips captured by cameras installed at different points within Nairobi Central Police Station.

According to testimony presented in court, the footage showed Ojwang arriving at the station after his transfer from Homa Bay County. Prosecutors said he appeared to be walking normally as officers escorted him through the station before he was booked into custody.

An IPOA forensic investigator told the court that although investigators found that the station’s Digital Video Recorder had been formatted after Ojwang’s death, digital forensic experts were able to recover significant portions of the surveillance footage that investigators now consider critical to the case.

The prosecution argued that the recovered footage has enabled investigators to reconstruct events inside the station during the hours preceding Ojwang’s death.

A key moment in Tuesday’s proceedings came when the prosecution directed the court’s attention to footage allegedly showing two unidentified men entering the station before the period during which Ojwang is believed to have sustained the injuries that later caused his death.

According to the prosecution, the two men were captured by surveillance cameras entering restricted sections of the station while accompanied by a police officer. The footage, prosecutors argued, raises serious questions about who the two men were, why they were allowed into the station, and what role, if any, they may have played in the events that followed.

The identities of the two men were not disclosed in court, and prosecutors indicated that investigations into their identities remain ongoing.

The court also heard testimony from a protected witness who assisted prosecutors in identifying officers captured on the surveillance footage.

The witness identified Police Constable Peter Kimani as the officer serving as the cell sentry during the material period and guided the court through various clips showing movements around the report office, corridors, and entrances leading to the police cells.

According to the witness, the footage placed several officers within the vicinity of the cells during the hours under investigation.

The prosecution maintains that establishing which officers were on duty and their movements within the station is crucial in determining individual responsibility for what happened to Ojwang.

As prosecutors continued presenting the recovered footage, the court was shown additional clips that, according to media reports from the proceedings, appeared to depict several men confronting and roughing up another individual inside the station. The prosecution relied on the footage as part of its broader effort to reconstruct the sequence of events. However, the identity of the individual shown in those particular images remained a matter before the court and had not been conclusively established during Tuesday’s proceedings.

Justice Kavedza at one point directed the prosecution to enlarge and zoom in on portions of the CCTV footage to enable the court to better examine the individuals appearing in the recordings and to assist in identifying persons captured by the surveillance cameras.

The direction underscored the growing importance of the digital evidence as the prosecution continued building its case.

IPOA investigators also testified about the condition of the CCTV system during their investigations.

The court heard that investigators established the station’s Digital Video Recorder had been formatted, effectively deleting crucial recordings. Despite that development, forensic experts succeeded in recovering parts of the erased footage, which now forms one of the prosecution’s principal pieces of evidence.

Prosecutors contend that the alleged deletion of surveillance footage points to an attempt to interfere with evidence following Ojwang’s death. The defence disputes that interpretation and maintains that the prosecution must prove every allegation beyond reasonable doubt.

Tuesday’s proceedings built upon claims made during the opening day of the trial when prosecutors alleged that Ojwang was assaulted while in police custody before efforts were allegedly made to conceal what had happened.

The prosecution insists that witness testimony, forensic analysis, and digital evidence will demonstrate that Ojwang’s injuries were sustained while under police custody and not through self-inflicted harm as initially reported.

Lawyers representing the accused persons continued challenging aspects of the prosecution’s evidence through cross-examination, particularly questioning the handling of digital evidence and the conclusions drawn by investigators.

Six accused persons, including former Nairobi Central Police Station Officer Commanding Station Samson Talaam, have denied the charges facing them.

Ojwang’s death sparked widespread public outrage and renewed debate over police accountability, with civil society organisations, human rights defenders, and members of the public closely following the proceedings.

As the hearing adjourned, Justice Kavedza directed that the trial would continue with further prosecution witnesses expected to testify on the forensic findings and the sequence of events captured by the recovered CCTV footage.

With digital evidence now at the centre of the proceedings, the case has entered a critical stage where prosecutors hope surveillance footage, forensic analysis, and witness testimony will establish what transpired inside Nairobi Central Police Station on the night Albert Ojwang died. At the same time, the defence is expected to continue scrutinising the prosecution’s evidence as the court works toward determining the truth behind one of Kenya’s most closely watched custodial death cases.

By Obat Masira

It is an honour and a historic occasion as we celebrate, for the first time in Kisumu, the French National Day—Bastille Day.

This evening is far more than a national celebration of France. It is a celebration of friendship, shared values, and the enduring belief that culture has the power to unite people across borders. It brings together two nations that recognise creativity not simply as entertainment, but as a force for education, innovation, peace, and sustainable development.

The story

The story of Bastille Day reminds us that history is shaped by courage, vision, and the determination to build a better future. The ideals born from that defining moment—liberty, equality, and fraternity—continue to inspire societies across the world because they speak to humanity’s common aspirations.

Those ideals find expression here in Kisumu through a different but equally powerful revolution: the revolution of arts and culture. Every song, every painting, every performance, and every story has the power to preserve identity, inspire hope, and strengthen communities.

The hall

There could be no more fitting venue for this inaugural celebration than the Mama Grace Onyango Cultural and Social Centre. Few institutions have contributed as profoundly to the cultural life of Western Kenya. Established in 1959 as the African Social Hall, it evolved into Victoria Social Hall and later the Kisumu Social Centre, while remaining true to its founding purpose—to provide a home where creativity, innovation, and talent could flourish.

Cradle

Over the decades, this centre became the cradle of artistic excellence. It nurtured the growth of Benga music, hosted influential literary discussions involving distinguished African writers such as Professor Okot p’Bitek, Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, David Rubadiri, Ali Mazrui, and Taban Lo Liyong, and helped establish Kisumu as one of Africa’s leading cultural centres.

These contributions played an important role in the city’s recognition as a UNESCO Creative City of Music, demonstrating that investment in culture creates lasting social and economic value.

Tonight, we celebrate not only this remarkable history but also the extraordinary journey that has transformed this centre into a vibrant institution with growing international recognition. It is a story of visionary leadership, committed partnerships, and a shared belief that when a society invests in its artists, it invests in its future.

Part II – A Renaissance of Culture and Partnership

History gives an institution its identity, but vision gives it its future. While we rightly celebrate the remarkable legacy of this centre, we must equally celebrate the extraordinary transformation it has undergone in recent years.

Since 2020, the Mama Grace Onyango Cultural and Social Centre has experienced a renaissance that has restored its place as one of Kenya’s foremost centres of artistic excellence. What was once remembered primarily for its glorious past has become a vibrant creative institution that is shaping the future of arts and culture in Kisumu and beyond.

This transformation did not happen by chance. It was inspired by visionary leadership, sustained through strategic partnerships, and made possible by individuals who understood that investing in culture is investing in people.

Tribute

I therefore pay special tribute to His Excellency Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, whose unwavering commitment to the creative economy has breathed new life into this historic iconic institution. His decision to reposition the centre as a dynamic space for artistic expression has demonstrated that culture is not a luxury to be enjoyed after development; it is an essential pillar of development itself.

His support, together with the encouragement of the First Lady of Kisumu County, who is also the centre’s Patron, has enabled this centre to flourish as a home where creativity, innovation, and talent continue to thrive.

We equally acknowledge the invaluable stewardship of Professor Humphrey Oborah and the Board of Management, whose dedication, strategic guidance, and belief in excellence have transformed ambition into achievement.

Their leadership, together with the tireless commitment of the resident artists, instructors, and staff, has created an environment where young people are not merely discovering their talents but developing them into professions.

Events

Today, the centre proudly hosts schools of Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Music, Film, Dance, and Modelling, providing opportunities that are enriching lives while strengthening Kisumu’s creative economy.

The centre’s achievements have already earned international recognition. In 2024, it successfully brought the Fifth World of Blacks and Africans Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) to Kisumu in collaboration with Misango Arts Ensemble, bringing one of Africa’s most significant cultural gatherings to Kisumu. It has established the Mama Grace Onyango Live Rhumba and Benga Bands, supported by professional music equipment that is nurturing the next generation of musicians. Later this year, it will proudly host the Twenty-Fourth Biennial World Talent Federation Conference, reaffirming Kisumu’s growing reputation as an international centre for culture and creativity.

Partnership

This remarkable progress has been greatly strengthened by the enduring partnership between the centre and the Embassy of France in Kenya.

Your Excellency Ambassador Arnaud Suquet, your support has extended far beyond diplomatic courtesy. Through your leadership, the Alliance Française has established a vibrant presence at the centre, promoting language, education, and intercultural understanding.

Studio

The establishment of the Mama Grace Onyango Professional Recording Studio has given our artists access to world-class production facilities, while the professional stage lighting that we proudly launch reflects your belief that Kenyan artists deserve international standards upon which to showcase their talents.

Your Excellency, these contributions are more than investments in infrastructure. They are investments in human potential. They have nurtured creativity, inspired confidence, and created opportunities for countless young artists whose talents will continue to enrich Kenya and the world.

On behalf of the Mama Grace Onyango Cultural and Social Centre, and on behalf of the people of Kisumu, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Government and people of France. Your partnership has strengthened not only this institution but also the enduring friendship between our two nations. It is a partnership we deeply value and one we hope will continue to flourish for generations to come.

The friendship between Kenya and France has demonstrated how cultural cooperation can transform institutions, empower young people, and strengthen international understanding.

Your Excellency the Ambassador, we respectfully propose the establishment of the Mama Grace Onyango–France International Cultural and Educational Exchange Programme, creating opportunities for artists, students, educators, and cultural practitioners to collaborate, exchange knowledge, and perform in each other’s countries.

Such a programme would deepen cultural understanding, strengthen creative industries, and position Kisumu as a gateway for international artistic collaboration. Together, we can organise joint festivals, artist residencies, technical training, performances in France and Kenya, and programmes that further enhance Kisumu’s standing as a UNESCO Creative City of Music.

Your Excellency Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, kindly allow me to make one respectful appeal. The remarkable progress of this centre has demonstrated that it has grown into an institution of national and international significance.

Autonomy

To realise its full potential, we respectfully request your consideration in granting the Mama Grace Onyango Cultural and Social Centre semi-autonomous status, or establishing it as a Cultural Parastatal.

Such a step would enable the centre to compete for international grants, strengthen global partnerships, attract investment, and operate with the flexibility required of a modern cultural institution.

As Kisumu prepares to host the Twenty-Fourth Biennial World Talent Federation Conference, this is an opportunity to elevate the centre to the international standards its achievements already deserve.

By investing in this institution today, we will not simply strengthen one centre—we will strengthen Kisumu’s position as one of Africa’s leading capitals of creativity, innovation, and cultural diplomacy.

Bridge

As we conclude this historic international celebration, let us remember that Bastille Day is ultimately a celebration of hope—the belief that societies flourish when they uphold human dignity, embrace opportunity, and invest in the limitless potential of their people.

Those ideals resonate just as powerfully here in Kisumu as they do in France. This evening, we have celebrated the remarkable journey of the Mama Grace Onyango Cultural and Social Centre—from its beginnings as the African Social Hall to its emergence as a vibrant institution of artistic excellence and international recognition.

The writer is the CEO/Manager of Mama Grace Onyango Cultural and Social Centre.

By Anderson Ojwang

Panic and shock has descended at Kisumu’s upmarket estate, commonly known as Grace Ogot Estate, after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) commenced civil proceedings to recover 7.6 acres currently valued at Sh790 million.

Similarly, the estate on Kenya Prisons land is worth Sh4.3 billion and is one of the most sought-after residential estates in Kisumu city.

The Commission’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Abdi A. Mohamud, said the disputed land was allegedly illegally excised from land belonging to the Kenya Prisons Service and converted into private ownership.

“The disputed land, currently valued at approximately KES 790 million excluding developments and an estimated KES 4.3 billion including developments, forms part of an original 16-acre parcel that had been reserved for the Kenya Prisons Service for staff housing and regional offices,” he said in a press statement.

He said the recovery action followed a petition lodged by the Kenya Prisons Service in February 2022 requesting investigations into the unlawful occupation, subdivision, and alienation of its land in Kisumu.

“Investigations established that the land was originally reserved for prison use under colonial-era planning instruments in the 1960s and was subsequently reaffirmed through Government development plans in the 1970s as public land designated for prison infrastructure,” he said.

He said the Commission established that the Kenya Prisons Service had developed staff housing on the property before the alleged encroachment and subdivision occurred.

The CEO said further investigations revealed that in or around 1989, the then Assistant Minister for Home Affairs and Heritage, allegedly acting in concert with other public officials, irregularly acquired approximately 7.6 acres of the land through fraudulent and unlawful processes.

“The alleged acquisition was facilitated through forged and irregular documentation, including a fake allotment letter and altered development plans,” he said.

Abdi said although the land was initially associated with the establishment of an educational institution, the intended public purpose was later abandoned, and the land was instead redirected for private residential development.

“Subsequently, the land was subdivided into 92 parcels and transferred to private individuals. The area is now fully developed and is commonly known as Winam Estate, also referred to as Grace Ogot Estate,” he said.

He said the Commission has moved to court seeking cancellation of all resultant titles and declarations that the entire chain of transactions was illegal, fraudulent, null and void.

“We are seeking restoration of the land to the Kenya Prisons Service,” he said.

The CEO said as part of the first phase of the recovery process, the Commission has filed nine asset recovery suits before the Environment and Land Court in Kisumu targeting parcels within the disputed 7.6-acre portion.

“The Commission notes that this matter reflects a broader pattern in which public land reserved for essential Government functions has been unlawfully diverted into private ownership through abuse of office, fraudulent documentation, and manipulation of land allocation processes,” he said.

EACC reiterated that public land was being held in trust for the people of Kenya and must only be allocated and utilised in strict compliance with the Constitution and applicable land laws.

Regional Director of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Central Nyanza region, Mr Abraham Kemboi, in a recent interview said some of the estates in the Milimani area have been constructed on public land.

He named the estates as Block 12 in Milimani area, which the Commission intends to recover.

Kemboi said they will also recover Block 9, where real estate investors and developers have built multi-million properties worth of value.

He said unscrupulous people grabbed the public land and sold it to innocent and unsuspecting Kenyans, who subsequently developed the parcels of land.

“Some estates in Milimani area such as Block 12 were grabbed, and we intend to recover the same. We are also looking at Block 9, which is historically Kenya Prisons’ parcel of land. Some unscrupulous Kenyans took away the land which belonged to the Prisons and sold it to unsuspecting Kenyans,” he said.

He said in Milimani, several government houses have been grabbed, with some rented to various government departments, to which they pay rent.

“We will recover that parcel of land, including taking action against all the government officers who were involved in the fraudulent allocation. We will recover what we think is the proceeds – the income that you have earned from irregularly occupying that government property,” he said.

He said the grabbing of public premises was common in Milimani area, where people have taken government houses and rented them back to the same government.

“Some commissions are being housed in premises and paying rent for what they should not be paying,” he said.

He said 40 percent of public land and properties in Kisumu have been grabbed, with three police lands – Kasagam Police Station, Carwash Police Station, and Mamboleo Police Station – having been grabbed.

“It cannot be that as a private person you have taken away a police station and you want our police officers to be squeezed in a corner while you, as a private person, own the largest part of the police station. Examples of such police stations whose parcels of land have been grabbed are concentrated in Kisumu East Constituency. A police station in Kasagam, a police station in Carwash, and a police station in Mamboleo Showground have most of their parcels of land grabbed,” he said.

He wondered how grabbers have been acting with impunity to even acquire a police station.

“It is very interesting that people can be so daring that they want to take away a police station and want to evict the police – our officers who guarantee our security. You want to feel so nice, you want to look like an entrepreneur. How can you be that enterprising, when most of the time you focus on taking away what belongs to us?” he said.

Kemboi said 40 percent of public land in Kisumu has been grabbed, and they are working to recover it.

“Generally, about 40 percent of public land that was earmarked for public use is actually in the wrong hands. When I speak of public land, I speak of land which was earmarked for Kenya Railways, Kenya Prisons, housing locally, land which was earmarked for police stations, and other public utilities such as schools, roads, and health facilities. Do you know most of these parcels are in wrong hands?” he said.

Kisumu County was last year categorised as one of the six counties in the country identified as hotspots for land theft.

He said the EACC was undertaking measures to return the grabbed public land back to the government.

“As a Commission, we have taken steps to ensure that these lands are returned back to the public for the good use of all of us. Much of those reports reaching my office, and especially in Kisumu East Constituency where grabbing is rampant, we are moving in to recover most of those grabbed parcels of land,” he said.

He warned the grabbers that they risk prosecution and forfeiture of their investments on the grabbed public land.

“We want to warn these grabbers that you will be wasting your investments when you deploy your resources on a parcel of land that was traditionally and historically set aside for the good use of the people of Kenya,” he said.

Kemboi expressed optimism that most of the grabbed land will be recovered and reverted to the public for its intended purpose.

“You are wasting your investment. The law has been clarified. In Kenya, currently, precedent has been set that whatever was set aside for good use for the public will revert to its original and intended use. No one under the law has the authority to grab public land and make it their own,” he said.

By Dickens Ochieng, Advocate of the High Court of Kenya

Kenya stands at the threshold of an energy revolution. We are blessed with abundant sunshine, vast water bodies, and some of the world’s richest renewable resources, yet we continue to debate costly and unpopular energy options such as coal and nuclear power. At the same time, millions of households struggle with high electricity bills while millions of young people remain unemployed.

The Kenya Solar Prosperity Initiative offers a different path. It is not merely an energy project; it is a green industrialisation strategy designed to lower the cost of living, create dignified jobs, and position Kenya as Africa’s clean energy powerhouse.

The proposal is simple: develop utility-scale solar parks across the Republic. Lake Victoria can host one of Africa’s largest floating solar programmes while protecting fisheries and biodiversity. Lake Turkana can become a solar-and-wind renewable energy corridor powering industries across northern Kenya. Along the Indian Ocean coast, solar parks can support ports, desalination, tourism, manufacturing, and the emerging green hydrogen economy. Rooftop solar will also be expanded in schools, hospitals, markets, industries, and homes.

Within ten years, Kenya can add 18 gigawatts of new solar capacity, supported by battery storage and modern transmission infrastructure. This can cut average electricity prices by 50%, reducing tariffs from roughly KSh 25–30 per kWh to KSh 12–15 per kWh.

Affordable electricity is industrial policy. Lower power costs will help manufacturers compete globally, reduce production costs for farmers and small businesses, attract investment, and ease the burden on Kenyan families.

The initiative can create over one million direct and indirect jobs in construction, engineering, manufacturing, transmission, maintenance, logistics, and digital services, with priority given to young people, women, and local communities.

This proposal is about more than solar farms. It is about cheaper electricity, meaningful jobs, industrial growth, environmental protection, and energy independence. The sun that rises over Lake Victoria, shines across Turkana, and lights the Indian Ocean coast can become the engine of Kenya’s economic transformation.