MP Were murder case: Philip Aroko turned to state witness

Homa Bay politician Philip Aroko. [PHOTO: FILE]

Homa Bay Politician and businessman Philip Aroko, who was a key suspect in the murder case of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were has been released from custody and turned into a state witness.

This was after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) opted not to pursue charges and enlisted him as a key witness after reviewing the evidence against him.

The development was confirmed during a court mention at the Kibera Law Courts on Thursday.

The political figure had previously denied any involvement in the murder of the MP.

Aroko was first arrested and arraigned at the JKIA Law Courts, where the prosecution sought to detain him for 30 days pending investigations.

However, Principal Magistrate Irene Gichobi granted only seven days.

Upon return to court, Aroko was released on a cash bail of Sh300,000 with several conditions.

But shortly after, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) appealed the decision.

A Kibera court then cancelled his bail, leading to his rearrest.

“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.

He was detained at Kileleshwa Police Station for more days to allow for more investigations to continue.

The move to enlist Philip Aroko as a state witness comes just weeks after two other suspects—Dennis Sewe Manyasi and Walter Awino Owino, the late MP’s driver—were also released by the JKIA Magistrate’s Court after the prosecution indicated they would testify against the accused.

They held emotional prayers with their families outside the court after they were released and given conditions for them to be turned to be witnesses, officials said.

The police said the murder was planned way before its execution, with meetings within and outside Nairobi. It has been linked to local politics.

There were up to 12 suspects who had been arrested over the murder probe.

Five of them were released unconditionally after the probe failed to link them to the murder.

Some of them are now witnesses in the case.