A suspect in the murder of Kasipul
Member of Parliament Charles Were was on Monday rearrested after a court
cancelled his bail.
Businessman Philip Aroko had been
released on bail pending investigations into the murder.
However, the prosecution appealed
the release, and a Kibera Court canceled the bail, prompting police to track
and arrest him.
The court ordered that he be
detained at Kileleshwa Police Station for seven days pending the conclusion of
investigations.
The Office of the Director of Public
Prosecutions had appealed his release.
Aroko was released last week on a
Sh300,000 cash bail by a Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Magistrate Court.
JKIA Law Courts Principal Magistrate
Irene Gichobi had imposed several conditions on Aroko’s release.
He was ordered to surrender his
passport and was prohibited from travelling to Homa Bay, the home county of the
late MP.
Additionally, he was restricted from
contacting family members, other suspects, or any individuals associated with
the case.
The court also directed Aroko to
refrain from interfering with any evidence that could be critical to the
ongoing investigation.
As part of his bail terms, Aroko was
required to report regularly to investigating officers and to provide any
evidence needed in connection with the case.
The prosecution had initially
requested that Aroko remain in custody, citing the high public interest in the
case and the need for further investigation.
Aroko is among 12 suspects under
investigation for the murder of MP Were.
Inspector Oliver Nabonwe swore an
affidavit indicating that Aroko had provided new information that requires more
time to investigate before a decision to charge him is made.
He added that the cybercrime and
forensic report from the National Forensic Laboratory is still pending. This
report will be used to further interrogate the respondent, an exercise that
requires his physical presence and additional time.
The prosecution also noted in its
appeal that a financial report from the Financial Reporting Centre is pending,
and is crucial for interrogating Aroko on the financial aspects of the
investigation.
“After interrogating some suspects
in custody, more witnesses have been identified whose statements are yet to be
recorded. This will require more time before investigations are concluded,” the
prosecution submitted.
“So far, our investigations have
revealed that the respondent, jointly with others in custody, is linked to the
murder of the late Hon. Charles Ong'ondo Were and could be charged with the
offence of murder once investigations are concluded,” read the court documents.
The affidavit states that police
need seven more days to investigate the new information provided by the
respondent during his interview and statement recording.
They also need time to trace,
interview, and record statements from newly identified witnesses, some of whom
are in Homa Bay County.
Police also intend to analyze call data records from the deceased, Aroko, and
other suspects, and to interrogate Aroko on the findings.
Aroko was arrested after being
implicated in the probe into the MP’s murder.
Were was shot and killed on April
30, 2025, along Valley Road in Nairobi. So far, 12 suspects—including the
alleged gunman—have been arrested.
The murder weapon has also been recovered.
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