Kasipul MP Were murder case: Suspects to know fate on Friday as police seek to detain them for 30 days

Four suspects linked to the murder of Kasipul MP Charles Ong'ondo Were cover their faces during their appearance at JKIA Court on May 5, 2025. (Photo: Courtesy)

By Carolyne Kubwa
Thursday, May 8, 2025

Preliminary investigations reveal that Were's bodyguard and driver were in communication with suspected planners and executors of his murder.

The Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has filed an application in court seeking to detain five suspects, including the late Kasipul MP Charles Ong'ondo Were's bodyguard and four others linked to the legislator's murder.

In the miscellaneous application, which has not been canvassed in court, the police are seeking to detain the five for 30 days pending investigations.

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The JKIA Law Court will, however, rule on Friday whether it will proceed with a miscellaneous application following objections raised by the defence lawyers, who challenged the court's jurisdiction.

In the affidavit, the DCI is seeking to remand MP's bodyguard Allan Omondi Ogolla, his driver Walter Owino, Lake basin Authority director Ebel Ochieng alias Dave Colo, Edwin Oduor and Dennis Sewe at Langata, Gigiri, Pangani, Kiambu and Embakasi Police Stations respectively for a period of 30 working days.

Inspector Oliver Nabonwe says in court documents that all the mobile phones and SIM cards recovered from the respondents should be subjected to forensic exploitation and analysis.

Preliminary investigations reveal that Were's bodyguard and driver were in communication with suspected planners and executors of his murder.

According to the investigating officer, they believe the two were in touch with the suspects both before and after the fatal shooting, in what police are calling a well-coordinated and premeditated crime.

He says there is a need to further analyse in detail several hours of CCTV footage and possibly other privately installed cameras along the path leading to the actual scene of the crime to better understand the circumstances surrounding the commission of the offence.

"Through mobile phone triangulation and interrogation of witnesses. people of interest and the respondents' accomplices already in lawful custody, it has been revealed that the respondents were in constant communication immediately before, during and after the crime," court documents reveal.

Some of the suspects linked to the murder of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were being escorted out of the JKIA court. pic.twitter.com/Obo4NSCoz7
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He adds that brief interviews of the suspects have revealed that they have crucial information that could unravel the murder of the deceased person herein and lead to further arrests.

Court documents say that during the arrest of the bodyguard and driver, two pistols and nine live rounds of ammunition, a bag and footwear matching the description of those worn by one of the suspects of the scene of the incident were recovered from the house of the bodyguard.

These firearms and live rounds of ammunition are yet to be forwarded to the ballistics for examination.

Court documents say several witnesses, including some in Kasipul Constituency within Homabay County, are yet to record their statements. Equally, several scenes closely linked to the main scene of crime are yet to be visited for possible evidence retrieval.

"There is a need to visit and conduct further and incisive interviews at the home and place of work, including the deceased person's office to better understand his last moments, days and hours before his death," the DCI states.