Murder suspect Aroko tells court he plans to visit late MP Were’s grave after detention

Murder suspect Aroko tells court he plans to visit late MP Were’s grave after detention

Aroko was arrested on Wednesday night after he presented himself at the Gigiri Police Station following an announcement by the DCI that he was wanted for interrogation.

Homabay politician Philip Aroko, a suspect linked to the murder of Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong'ondo Were, has told the High Court that he intends to visit the MP's grave after his seven-day detention.

Aroko was detained last week on Friday by the JKIA court after he was presented as one of the suspects in the murder case.

Principal Magistrate Irene Gichobi remanded him at Kileleshwa Police Station for 7 days after pleading with the court to reduce the days from 30 as requested by the prosecution.

During a mention of his case today (Monday) before Justice Alexander Muteti, the suspect, through his lawyer Danstan Omari, revealed that he had intended to attend the late MP’s burial but could not do so as he was in custody.

He said as a public figure and a person who comes from Kasipul, he intends to go and pray for the soul of Were once investigations against him are completed.

" Your honour, my client had intended to attend burial but since the MP is already buried, he wants to go and interact with his people in Kasipul as he will be seeking to be their MP," Omari said.

In that regard, Omari told Justice Muteti that they wished to withdraw the application before the High Court, saying the prayers sought were spent.

"This application was based on the inordinate delay to arraign the applicant, which is now spent, and we therefore wish to withdraw the application because there is nothing left before you for determination," Omari said.

Muteti agreed with his application and marked the suit as closed.

Aroko was arrested on Wednesday night after he presented himself at the Gigiri Police Station following an announcement by the DCI that he was wanted for interrogation.

On Friday, Aroko, through lawyers Danstan Omari, Cliff Ombeta, Samson Nyaberi and Shadrack Wambui, moved to the High Court seeking orders to be produced in a court.

High Court Judge Alexander Muteti certified the application as urgent and said Aroko should be produced in court on May 13 for the court to rule on whether he will be released on bail.

In the application, lawyer Omari claimed that Aroko’s constitutional rights have been severely violated since his arrest in connection with the MP's murder.

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