MP Were’s driver turns State witness as five suspects face murder charges
Three of the suspects, William Imoli, also known as Imo, Edwin Oduor Odhiambo alias Machuani, and Ebel Ochieng alias Dave Calo, will be arraigned at the Kibera High Court. Calo is a director at the Lake Basin Development Authority in Kisumu.
Five men will be charged with the murder of Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were, following the approval of charges by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The suspects will appear in court on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, after the DPP said there is enough evidence to prosecute them for their alleged roles in the killing, which happened on April 30 at around 7:40 pm near City Mortuary Roundabout in Nairobi.
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Three of the suspects, William Imoli, also known as Imo, Edwin Oduor Odhiambo alias Machuani, and Ebel Ochieng alias Dave Calo, will be arraigned at the Kibera High Court. Calo is a director at the Lake Basin Development Authority in Kisumu.
The other two suspects, Allan Omondi Ogola, a police officer who was the MP’s bodyguard, and Isaac Kuria, also known as Kush, will appear before the Milimani High Court. Kuria is believed to be the hitman.
The DPP said investigations showed the five, together with others who are not before the court, plotted and carried out the murder. Police have linked the killing to local political conflicts and confirmed that the murder was planned over a period, with meetings held both within and outside Nairobi.
Initially, up to 12 people had been arrested as part of the probe. Five were later released without charge after they could not be directly linked to the murder. Some of those released, including the MP's driver, Walter Awino Owino and another man, Dennis Sewe Manyasi, are now state witnesses.
The two were freed by a JKIA court on Tuesday after the prosecution declared their intent to use them in the case.
After their release, the two joined their families in emotional prayers outside the courtroom. Authorities said their change of status came with specific conditions.
Investigators say one of the suspects claimed he received an advance payment of Sh850,000. A portion of the money, partly in US dollars, was recovered from his home, lending some weight to the allegation.
The murder sparked outrage and tension in Homa Bay County, with local leaders and residents pointing to internal succession politics as a possible motive behind the killing.
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