Ong'ondo Were: 3 Key Suspects Linked to Kasipul MP's Murder Denied Bail
- The High Court in Kibera has denied bail to three men accused of killing Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were, citing threats to witnesses and risks of interference
- Justice Diana Kavedza said key witnesses are close relatives or acquaintances of the accused, with some under witness protection due to fears for their safety
- The judge noted the murder was organised and coordinated, and pointed to a June 3 court incident where the suspects allegedly threatened the prosecution
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Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
The High Court in Kibera has declined to grant bail to three prime suspects in the murder of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were.
Source: Twitter
Lady Justice Diana Kavedza, delivering her ruling on Thursday, August 14, said the prosecution had demonstrated compelling reasons to keep the accused in custody.
The suspects, identified as William Imoli, alias Imo; Edwin Odour Odhiambo, alias Machuani; and Ebel Ochieng, alias Dave Calo, will remain in remand until the trial begins.
The court heard that most of the key witnesses are either close relatives or acquaintances of the accused, a factor the judge said heightened the risk of interference.
"The prosecution asserts that key witnesses are close relatives and acquaintances of the accused. These witnesses have reportedly expressed fear for their safety and are currently under witness protection, which itself suggests a serious perceived threat," Lady Justice Kavedza ruled.
She further noted that the murder appeared to have been carried out in an organised and coordinated manner, increasing the likelihood that the accused could intimidate witnesses if released.
Justice Kavedza also cited an incident in court on 3 June 2025, when the three suspects allegedly made threatening remarks aimed at the prosecution.
“This threat, made in a public setting, could not be ignored by witnesses, court officers, and the investigating officer,” she said.
Why did DPP want suspects denied bail?
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had applied on 16 June 2025 to have the trio denied bail, arguing they posed a risk to public order, could abscond, and were likely to interfere with witnesses.
The court agreed, finding the threats, the accused’s proximity to key witnesses, and the violent nature of the crime sufficient to deny them bond.
Source: Facebook
However, two other suspects linked to the case, Isaac Kuria Chege, alias Kush, and Allan Omondi Ogola, will have their bond applications heard on 22 September 2025.
Investigations presented in court placed each accused at the heart of the crime.
An affidavit from an officer at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Homicide Bureau revealed that the firearm used to kill Were was recovered from Edwin Odour Odhiambo.
How was Were's murder planned, executed?
As earlier reported, William Imoli Shigali was identified as the driver of the vehicle that trailed the MP from Parliament, with his phone records placing him at the precincts for much of the day.
Ebel Ochieng was accused of procuring a phone and fraudulently registering a SIM card for use in coordinating the murder, which was later disposed of.
Were's tragic killing occurred on the evening of 30 April 2025, around 7:40mp, near the City Mortuary Roundabout along Ngong Road in Kilimani, Nairobi.
The five suspects were charged afresh after the DPP moved to consolidate two separate murder cases earlier filed at the Kibera and Milimani Law Courts.
As per the prosecution, the evidence shows the attack was planned, with each suspect playing a specific role in tracking, coordinating, and executing the fatal shooting.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
