Kasipul MP Murder Case: Suspect Aroko Withdraws Petition in Dramatic Court Twist
In a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the brutal murder of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were, businessman Phillip Nahashon Aroko has withdrawn a petition challenging the legality of his detention, marking a new turn in the high-profile case. The decision was made during a hearing at the High Court in Nairobi on May 12, 2025, presided over by Justice Alexander Muteti.
Aroko, a key suspect in the murder probe, had initially filed the petition through his legal team, led by lawyers Danstan Omari and Sam Nyaberi, alleging that police violated his constitutional rights by detaining him beyond the 24-hour limit without presenting him before a magistrate. He surrendered to Gigiri Police Station on May 7, 2025, following a summons by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and was expected to be arraigned the next day. However, he was held at Kileleshwa Police Station for a week as investigators continued their probe into his alleged involvement in the MP’s killing.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), represented by State Counsel Gikui Gichuhi, did not oppose the withdrawal. Gichuhi informed the court that Aroko was booked at Kasarani Police Station on May 8, 2025, at 12:18 a.m. and presented before the Jomo Kenyatta International Law Courts within the constitutional timeframe. Justice Muteti accepted the explanation, ruling that Aroko’s custody was lawful based on the JKIA court order, which allowed investigators seven days to complete their inquiries. The judge marked the file as closed and directed that Aroko remain in custody pending the outcome of the investigation, which will determine whether he faces murder charges alongside 11 other suspects, including the MP’s bodyguard Allan Ogola Omondi, driver Walter Owino Awino, and Lake Basin Development Authority director Ebel Ochieng, alias Dave Calo.
The murder of MP Were, who was fatally shot on April 30, 2025, near the Nairobi City Mortuary roundabout, has gripped the nation. Police have arrested 12 suspects, with investigations pointing to a targeted killing linked to the notorious “Mjahidin Gang” operating in Nairobi’s Eastlands area. Detectives recovered a Sarsilmaz pistol, confirmed through ballistic analysis to have been used in the shooting, along with two additional firearms, nine rounds of ammunition, and items matching the description of those used by the gunman. CCTV footage and communication records among the suspects have provided critical leads, with investigators analyzing footage from Parliament to the crime scene to piece together the events.
A week before his death, MP Were had reported receiving a threatening message stating “Utaona” (You will see), indicating his life was in danger. The ongoing probe continues to explore the motive behind the killing, with police racing to unmask all individuals involved in the planning and execution of the crime.
Stay tuned for further updates as this case unfolds.