Court frees Kasipul MP murder suspect on Sh300,000 bail

Homa Bay businessman and politician Philip Nahashon Aroko is presented at JKIA courts after being arrested by police over the murder of Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong'ondo Were May 09, 2025. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Philip Nahashon Aroko, the prime suspect in the murder of Kasipul MP Charles Were was on Tuesday released on a cash bail of Sh300,000 by the High Court in Kibera.

Justice Diana Kavedza ordered the release of Aroko on bail on Tuesday after it emerged that the state is yet to conclude the ongoing investigations into the murder of the late MP Were.

While freeing the businessman on bail, Justice Kavedza barred him from traveling to Homa Bay County or its environs pending the completion of ongoing investigations.

Aroko was also ordered to deposit his passport with the Deputy Registrar of Kibera High Court and provide two contact persons who are residents of Nairobi County.

They are also supposed to deposit a copy of their identification cards.

Additionally, Aroko was prohibited from contacting any suspects or witnesses linked to the case. The case will be mentioned on June 26 to confirm whether he will be charged with murder.

Aroko had been in custody at Kilimani Police Station since last week after being re-arrested following a request by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga, who successfully challenged an earlier decision by the JKIA Law Courts to release him on bail pending probe.

On May 20, 2025, the High Court had allowed the DPP's request to hold Aroko for seven more days while investigations continued until today.

The judge found the request to be reasonable and proportionate, considering the delicate nature and extent of the ongoing investigations.

The court emphasized that the extended detention was a temporary measure designed to allow investigators to finalize key leads without jeopardizing Aroko's fundamental rights.

In seeking to have his bail reinstated, Aroko, who represented himself, assured the Justice Kavedza, that he is willing to comply with all conditions imposed as detectives complete their probe into the killing of the MP.

The prosecution did not oppose Aroko's release on bail, stating that police have so far recorded a statement from him, and investigations are ongoing in the matter.

In an affidavit, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations told the court that Aroko had been implicated in the planning of the MP who was shot around City Mortuary on May 2, 2025.

The investigators stated that Aroko is believed to be the organiser and the financier of the deceased's murder, noting that there is need to have officials from the Financial Intelligence Bureau to guide in pursuing financial angle to the commission of the offence.

"It has been established that the respondent (Aroko) has shown interest in Kasipul Constituency parliamentary seat where the deceased was the MP before he was murdered and had threatened the deceased before the fatal incident," they stated.

Aroko, who voluntarily surrendered to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on May 7, 2025, has consistently denied any involvement in the MP's death. He maintains that he is a law-abiding citizen and has expressed a willingness to cooperate fully with investigators.

Among the other suspects linked to the killing are MP Were's bodyguard Allan Ogola Omondi, his driver Walter Owino Awino and Lake Basin Development Authority director Ebel Ochieng, alias Dave Calo.