DCI orders Homa Bay politician Philip Aroko to surrender himself over MP Charles Were’s murder

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has directed Philip Nahashon Aroko to immediately surrender to the nearest police station, naming him a person of interest in the ongoing probe into the murder of Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were.

In a notice on Wednesday, the DCI emphasised that Aroko’s cooperation is not optional.

“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations requests Philip Nahashon Aroko to surrender immediately to the nearest police station. He is a person of interest in the ongoing investigation into the brutal murder of Hon. Charles Ong’ondo Were. Compliance with this request is mandatory,” read the statement posted on X.

The agency further appealed to the public to share any information that may assist in tracing Aroko.

“We also appeal to anyone with information regarding his whereabouts to contact the nearest police station or use our toll-free numbers: 999, 112, or #FichuaKwaDCI (0800 722 203). All information provided will be treated with the utmost confidentiality,” it added.

Aroko's lawyer, Danstan Omari, however, said his client was innocent and had nothing to hide.

"I will present my client, Philip Nahashon Aroko, to the Gigiri Police Station shortly. He is being framed politically," Omari said on his social media account on Wednesday night.

So far, nine suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing of the legislator, among them his bodyguard Allan Omondi Ogolla and driver Walter Owino. Police suspect the two were part of a criminal gang involved in planning the MP’s assassination.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Wednesday confirmed that some of Were’s close allies were complicit in the murder, terming the act a betrayal.

“We have made very significant progress in arresting the perpetrators and their collaborators, and it will shock you to note that this was a heinous crime done in a cavalier manner, involving people who ordinarily should have taken good care of him in his interest,” Murkomen said.

“The suspects will be brought to book and serve as an example. Their punishment will be an example to anyone who thinks they can run away from the law.”

MP Charles Were was gunned down on the evening of Wednesday, April 30, while stuck in traffic in Nairobi. The assailant, who was armed, is believed to have been working with an accomplice who waited on a motorbike.

Political ambitions

Details suggest that Aroko may have had political ambitions in Kasipul, the very seat held by the slain MP.

Social media posts dating back to 2024 show local residents publicly endorsing him as a prospective candidate for the 2027 General Election.

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• Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were
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• DCI orders Homa Bay politician Philip Aroko to surrender himself over MP Charles Were’s murder
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Aroko’s name is also linked to several high-profile fraud cases, most notably fake gold scams that have attracted national attention. In 2018, he was charged alongside businessman Jared Otieno and others for allegedly conning a foreign investor, Samir Entoro, out of Sh23 million. They had claimed they would sell and ship eight kilograms of gold to Dubai.

In another incident, he was among 15 suspects arrested in Kileleshwa in connection with a Sh300 million gold scam targeting a businessman from Laos. The property where the arrest took place was also linked to Otieno.

During court appearances, Aroko denied involvement, claiming he was only a driver. However, investigators testified that he was an active participant in a coordinated scheme to defraud investors.

Despite the criminal allegations, Aroko has remained visibly active in political circles and appears to have been positioning himself to contest the Kasipul parliamentary seat in 2027.