Nairobi, May 12, 2025 — High Court Judge Alexander Muteti has granted an application by Kasipul MP Charles Were murder suspect, Philip Nahashon Aroko, allowing him to withdraw a petition that had challenged the legality of his detention. Aroko had accused police of violating his constitutional rights by allegedly detaining him beyond the 24-hour limit without being arraigned in court.
Aroko, represented by lawyers Danstan Omari and Sam Nyaberi, had earlier filed an urgent application seeking to be produced in court either alive or dead, after he was summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and presented himself at Gigiri Police Station on May 7, 2025, at 10 p.m.
Despite expectations that he would be arraigned the following day, Aroko was not presented before a magistrate by the close of business on May 8. This prompted Justice Muteti to issue an order on May 9 requiring Aroko to be produced in open court on the morning of May 12 at 10 a.m.
Upon being brought before the High Court today by officers from the Office of the Inspector General and the DCI, Aroko requested to withdraw the application, informing the court that he had already been arraigned at the JKIA Law Courts on the afternoon of May 9. A magistrate there granted a seven-day custodial order to allow further investigations.
State Counsel Gikui Gichuhi, representing the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), confirmed that Aroko had been booked at Kasarani Police Station at 12:18 a.m. on May 8, and that his court appearance fell within the constitutionally mandated timeframe.
Justice Muteti accepted the explanation and ruled that Aroko was being lawfully held based on the JKIA court order. He allowed the withdrawal of the petition, marked the file as closed, and directed that Aroko remain in custody at Kileleshwa Police Station for seven days pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.
Aroko is one of twelve suspects being held in connection with the brutal killing of Kasipul MP Ong’ondo Were, who was shot multiple times by a lone gunman. Among the other suspects are the MP’s bodyguard Allan Ogola Omondi, his driver Walter Owino Awino, and Lake Basin Development Authority director Ebel Ochieng, alias Dave Calo.
Police say crucial evidence, including two pistols, nine live rounds, and clothing matching those worn by the suspected shooter, were recovered during the arrest of suspects Edwin Odour Odhiambo and Dennis Sewe Manyasi. The suspects were reportedly linked through intercepted communications pointing to coordinated planning and execution of the murder.
Investigators are now analysing CCTV footage captured between Parliament and the City Mortuary, tracing the final movements of the slain MP. Lead investigator Inspector Oliver Nabonwe told the court that initial interviews suggest the suspects possess critical information that could lead to further arrests and help unravel the motive behind the killing.
The case remains under intense public and political scrutiny as the nation awaits answers in the high-profile murder.
