The high-profile homicide case involving the assassination of the late Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were has taken a contemporary twist following the discharge of businessman Phillip Aroko.
Aroko, who had been beforehand arrested and handled as a suspect within the case, was launched after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) reviewed the proof.
The businessman will now function a state witness within the ongoing investigation, having been enlisted by DCI as a key witness.
His launch marks a big turning level in a case that has already seen three people formally charged with MP Ong’ondo Were’s killing.
Aroko has, nonetheless, persistently denied any involvement within the legislator’s homicide.
The Kibera High Court in late May overturned a call by the Chief Magistrate’s Court on the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), which had granted him bail.
Justice Diana Kavedza dominated in favour of the prosecution’s request for prolonged detention, citing the advanced and delicate nature of the continued investigation.
“The utility is discovered to be merited,” the choose said, emphasising that the momentary detention was obligatory to permit investigators to pursue essential leads with out infringing on Aroko’s constitutional rights.
Aroko was subsequently held at Kileleshwa Police Station till May 26, 2025, as investigations continued.
Court releases businessman Phillip Aroko
The High Court then, on May 27, launched him on a money bail of Ksh300,000 issued earlier by the JKIA courtroom.
This is after the courtroom was instructed that the investigators within the case have pieced collectively required proof, together with the businessman writing his assertion.
The state requested the courtroom to launch Aroko underneath related situations issued earlier by the JKIA courtroom.
“With the 7 days you supplied to the prosecution, we have now been in a position to cowl areas, the times have been utilised sufficiently in custody,” the courtroom was instructed.
Aroko, representing himself, instructed the courtroom that he would abide by the instructions issued, together with availing his passport in Kibera Court.
The late MP Charles Were was fatally shot on April 30, 2025, throughout rush hour on the City Mortuary roundabout on Ngong Road in Nairobi.
Police reviews indicated {that a} gunman on a motorbike fired on the lawmaker at shut vary earlier than rushing off with the rider.
Since the launch of investigations, three suspects linked to the homicide have since been formally charged earlier than the High Court in Kibera.
3 suspects formally charged
The accused, particularly William Imoli Imo Shigali, Edwin Oduor Odhiambo, and Ebel Ochieng alias Dave Calo, appeared earlier than Justice Kavedza on Tuesday, June 17 and pleaded not responsible to fees of homicide.
Calo is a director on the Lake Basin Development Authority in Kisumu, in keeping with the prosecution.
Odhiambo was allegedly present in possession of the firearm used within the killing of the MP, whereas Shigali is the proprietor of the motorcar used to path the late lawmaker’s automotive from Parliament Buildings.
The three denied the cost of homicide opposite to Section 203 as learn with Section 204 of the Penal Code, Chapter 63, Laws of Kenya, stemming from the occasions of April 30.
Led by State Counsel Gikui Gichuhi, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) opposed their launch on bail Following their plea, citing the intense nature of the offence.
However, the choose ordered the three accused individuals to stay in custody till July 17, pending a probation report and fixing a ruling date on their bail utility.
