A magistrate at the JKIA law court will today rule on an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions in which the state is seeking to detain some five suspects connected to the murder of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo for 30 days pending completion of investigations.
The suspects Ebel Ochieng alias Dave Colo, Edwin Oduor Odhiambo, Dennis Sewe Manyasi, Allan Ogola Omondi and Walter Owino Awino were arraigned before Principal Magistrate Irene Gichobi on Thursday.
However, their defence teams contested the jurisdiction of the court in the miscellaneous application, arguing they ought to be arraigned before Kibera or at the Milimani law court.
The state, through the sworn affidavit of Inspector of Police Oliver Nabonwe, had asked that they be allowed to detain the suspects at Langata, Gigiri, Pangani, Kiambu and Embakasi police stations pending the conclusion of investigations.
Magistrate Gicobi will today rule on the issue of jurisdiction before proceeding to hear the state's application.
The court earlier this week allowed a similar prayer by the state to detain five other suspects in the case for 30 days as detectives complete their investigations.
Similarly, Kasipul politician Philip Aroko is also expected to be arraigned at the JKIA court, with the state expected to seek custodial days pending investigations.
Detectives on Wednesday directed him to surrender himself to police.
Speaking moments after the notice, Aroko said he was ready to tell police all he knew regarding the April 30 fatal shooting of the MP.
Aroko, accompanied by his lawyers Danstan Omari, Sam Nyaberi and Cliff Ombeta, then presented himself at the Gigiri police station Wednesday night.
He was, however, not booked.
His lawyers said police, however, moved the suspect to Kasarani police station, where he was booked minutes past midnight.
He was therefore not arraigned on Thursday as was expected by his lawyers, as police argue the 24-hour maximum detention time before presentation in court had not lapsed.
