Ong’ondo Were murder: 3 suspects plead not guilty, detained for 30 days

Three suspects accused of murdering Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were have pleaded not guilty and will remain in custody for 30 days pending further court directions.

William Imoli Shigali, Edwin Oduor Odhiambo alias Machuani, and Ebel Ochieng alias Dave Calo were arraigned before Justice Diana Kavedza on July 17, 2025, where they denied the murder charges.

The three are charged with murder, contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code. The alleged offence took place on April 30, 2025, around 7:40 p.m. at the City Mortuary Roundabout on Ngong Road, Kilimani Sub-County, Nairobi.

The prosecution confirmed that all the accused are mentally fit to take plea, based on a mental assessment report submitted to the court.

However, during proceedings, the third accused, Ebel Ochieng, allegedly threatened the state prosecutor, reportedly saying “Huyu tutamuua” (“We shall kill him”) during a recess before the court delivered its ruling on bail. The utterance was deemed a direct threat to the prosecutor and potential witnesses.

As a result, Justice Kavedza denied bail to all three suspects.

The third accused was ordered held in solitary confinement at Nairobi Remand Prison pending further mental evaluation. The other two remain in custody awaiting additional court directions.

During the hearing, the first accused told the court he had previously been taken to Mbagathi Hospital but received no treatment and was told to wait three months for recovery.

The second accused said he was willing to explain the presence and source of firearms linked to the case and requested examination of his seized phone to reveal the truth.

The prosecution raised safety and witness interference concerns, particularly following the alleged in-court threat.

They also said the accused were a flight risk. They alleged that the third accused switched off his known mobile phone, purchased another, and fled to Nakuru, where he was arrested in a guesthouse.

They further claimed the second accused was found with firearms linked to pending cases in Kiambu and Kayole, including 16 weapons allegedly used in the MP’s murder.

The prosecution cited existing criminal files, including Kiambu OB No. 03/22/04/2025, Kayole OB No. 79/17/02/2025, and DCI Kayole Criminal No. 131/13/2025, to support the bail opposition.

The defence disputed the flight claims, stating the first accused was arrested at a restaurant, the second in Umoja, and the third at home. They argued there was no attempt to flee and that the suspects were willing to comply with any bail terms.

They further told the court that one of the accused had lost his mother and requested permission for him to attend her burial.

The defence emphasized the presumption of innocence and maintained that the seriousness of the charge alone is not sufficient to deny bail without compelling reasons.

They added that the accused are family men with permanent residences in Nairobi and Nakuru, and the first accused is a student at Daystar University and a member of the Lake Basin Authority.

The prosecution insisted that witness safety and public security concerns outweighed the defence’s assurances and urged the court to follow precedent in denying bail in high-risk cases.

Justice Kavedza scheduled the next mention for July 17, 2025, to receive reports from the probation and investigating officers on the safety of prosecution witnesses and the public.

The application for the first accused to attend his mother’s burial will also be considered after the probation report is filed.