Suspected getaway rider in MP Were's murder to be held for 20 days

Police officers led by Homicide team investigates the killing of Kasipul MP Ong'ondo Were along Valley road-Ngong road-Mbagathi road roundabout. [Jonah Onyango, Standard] A man suspected to be the rider of the motorcycle carrying the assassin who shot dead Kasipul MP Charles Were on 30 April will be detained for 20 days. Amos Barasa was arraigned on Thursday at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Magistrates' Court, where police sought to detain him for 30 working days. Their application, however, was declined by Principal Magistrate Irene Gichobi. "Consequently, the said application to detain the respondent (Barasa) at the Parklands Police Station is allowed but for 20 days in the first instance," she said. She also gave the police permission to access his mobile phone and two SIM cards and directed the matter to be mentioned on 4 June. When he rose to address the Magistrate, Barasa requested to be given a conducive environment at the station, saying that he had been denied access to a mattress and was sleeping on the floor. "I am kindly requesting to be given warm clothes because the police cells are cold and I have a chest problem," said Barasa. When Magistrate Gichobi pushed back, telling him that he was in warm clothes, Barasa said that he had been sleeping on the floor and needed some socks for warmth. One of the officers assured the court that he would be provided with a mattress, with Barasa saying that he had been told by officers at the Parklands Police Station not to use the said mattress and that it was given to another person. "The officer said that I should not sleep on the mattress and I was moved to another room which did not have anything," added Barasa. "Your honour, we shall address that matter to make sure that he is comfortable," said one of the officers before pledging to get Barasa the socks that he needs. Magistrate Gichobi told him that all people, including family members, who need to visit him in custody will have to be vetted by the Officer Commanding Station Parklands. Barasa is the 12th suspect to be detained in connection with the brutal murder of Were, who was shot dead at the City Mortuary roundabout. He is accused of carrying the pillion passenger and, together, the two trailed the legislator from Parliament Buildings, where the MP left in the company of his driver, Walter Owino, and his bodyguard, Allan Ogola. The two allegedly followed the three as they stopped along Wabera Street, where the bodyguard deposited some money in the legislator's phone and then left for Lang'ata. Police allege that Barasa and the assassin caught up with the legislator at the roundabout, where he was shot five times. He was rushed to the nearby Nairobi Hospital but died on arrival. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced his arrest yesterday from Laini Saba in the Kibera slums, Nairobi. Police told Magistrate Gichobi that they had recovered the motorcycle they believed was used in the hit, and they needed to confirm its ownership. They added that the Bajaj Boxer motorcycle, registration number KMFZ 413W, needed to be checked to see whether it had a tracker so as to confirm Barasa's movements that day. In the application, police said that their preliminary investigations had placed Barasa and others at the crime scene. After the arrest, DCI on their X platform said that Barasa had been posing as a bodaboda operator but was using the business as a cover to carry out criminal activities that they did not mention. "During interrogation, he disclosed his involvement in the crime, revealing that he had been engaged by the main actors and received a payment of Sh50,000 as part of his compensation," posted DCI. Barasa becomes the second suspect to be detained this week after that of Isaac Kuria Chege alias Kush, who police say is the alleged assassin and the 12th overall to be held in connection with the murder. Kuria was arrested in Isebania, Migori County, while attempting to flee to neighbouring Tanzania. Other suspects in police custody include politician and businessman Phillip Nahashon Aroko, whose seven-day detention ends today. Others who have been held between 20-30 days include Ebel Ochieng, the MP's driver Owino and bodyguard Ogola, Dennis Sewe, Edwin Oduor, William Imoli, Juma Ali, Douglas Muchiri and David Mihigo.

Suspected getaway rider in MP Were's murder to be held for 20 days

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