Main Suspect In MP Were’s Murder Snubs Court, Sparks Uproar
The police neglected to bring Philip Aroko, a businessman charged with the murder of Kasipul MP Charles Were, in court.
On Thursday, May 8, the police planned to present the businessman, who they claim is a person of interest in the case, before the JKIA Law Courts.
Aroko’s lawyer, Danstan Omari, opposed the police action, accusing officers of violating his client’s rights.
Aroko was summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Wednesday night, May 7, after officials identified him as a person of interest in their inquiry.
After presenting himself and being detained at the Kasarani Police Station, Aroko was generally expected to be arraigned on Thursday.
But this was not the case, as Aroko’s lawyer, Omari, accused the police of seeking to undermine his client’s release.
Lawyer Danstan Omari claims the arrests of Philip Nahashon Aroko and Lake Basin Development Authority Director Ebel Ochieng over the murder of Kasipul MP Charles Were are politically motivated.
— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) May 8, 2025
Omari: Philip Aroko and Ebel Ochieng have been selectively brought to court so that… pic.twitter.com/YV2jcxaJVA
“The mischief in this matter is that our client is being held away from the courts so that we don’t make an application for him to attend the burial,” Omari said, referring to the burial plans for the late MP.
Aroko’s legal team also claimed that the state failed to disclose when Aroko was officially booked in the Occurrence Book (OB), generating further concerns about procedural transparency in the investigations.
According to Omari, the police’s failure to produce Aroko within 24 hours after his detention violates his rights.
“If he surrendered at 10 pm, he was supposed to be in court today,” Omari observed.
“Failure to produce him in court today means the earliest he will appear is Friday at 9 am since courts don’t operate at night,” Omari added.
“This delay is intentional; it is meant to ensure he doesn’t attend the burial.”
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The court then asked the police to explain Aroko’s whereabouts and provide an update on the status of the investigations.
Dunstan Omari: The mischief in this matter is that our client ( Phillip Aroko) is being held away from the courts so that we don't make an application for him to attend the burial.
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) May 8, 2025
K24Updates pic.twitter.com/ydoaRnt4TG
As of Thursday, 10 people were in police detention in connection with the murder, including the late MP’s bodyguard and driver.
Five were presented in court on Thursday, and Principal Magistrate Irene Gichobi has scheduled a ruling for Friday at 10 a.m.
Meanwhile, the late MP’s body was flown to his hometown of Homa Bay on Thursday in preparation for his funeral the following day.
Main Suspect In MP Were’s Murder Snubs Court, Sparks Uproar
