DPP Keriako Tobiko opposes bail for murder suspects

Maringo Protus Sarara alias Sarara (left) and Alfred Maranya Ogesi alias Brown (right) at the Milimani law courts during the hearing of an application for bail in a case in which they are accused with two others for the murder of Irungu Kamau on the 16/09/2013 along Duruma road in Nairobi. PHOTO.FIDELIS KABUNYI

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has opposed the release on bail of four Nairobi County security agents accused of murder.

Senior Assistant DPP Catherine Mwaniki told Justice James Wakiaga that that the accused could interfere with potential witnesses.

"This court is duty-bound to safeguard the rights of the deceased. The accused were at large before they were arrested and therefore they do not know who is going to give evidence against them and as such they may be at risk," Ms Mwaniki said. She said it took police two years to arrest and charge the four.

Mwaniki told the court that Alfred Maranya Ogesi alias Brown (pictured right), Julius Omanyo Ochieng, Marigo Protus alias Sarara and Ambani Akasi alias Wasiwasi are dangerous and are likely to abscond court if released.

She said Wasiwasi had been on the run and only appeared in court when a warrant of arrest was issued.

Further, Mwaniki said the wife of a hawker they are accused of killing has expressed fears for her life. "We have strong evidence on how the accused have been terrorising hawkers in the city and it was difficult to arrest them as the victims feared for their lives," she said.

Mwaniki said the charge against the accused is serious and, if convicted, they are likely to be handed life sentences. The four were charged on January 11 with the murder of Irungu Kamau.

The accused are among county inspectorate officers suspected of killing more than ten hawkers, Mwaniki told the court.

Their lawyer, Osoro Mogikoyo, pleaded with the court to admit the four to bail as they are willing to attend court. And since they are employees of Nairobi County Government, he said, it would be easy to trace them.

The court will deliver a ruling on March 23, 2016 as to whether they should be released on bail.