The JKIA Magistrate Court has granted businessman and politician Philip Aroko a Ksh 300,000 cash bail in connection with the murder case of Kasipul MP Charles Were.
Magistrate Irene Gichobi, presiding over the case, imposed strict bail conditions, barring Aroko from traveling to Homa Bay County and requiring him to report to the investigating officer twice weekly until investigations are complete.
The court’s decision came after rejecting an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to extend Aroko’s custodial detention by an additional seven days.
The DPP had argued that more time was needed to complete investigations into the high-profile case, which has drawn significant public attention due to its political implications.
“The court finds insufficient grounds to continue holding the suspect in custody,” stated Magistrate Gichobi in her ruling. “However, the seriousness of the allegations necessitates strict bail conditions.”
Aroko, a controversial businessman in gold trade and a budding politician, is accused of involvement in the murder of the Kasipul MP, a case that has heightened tensions in Homa Bay County.
Aroko is a politician and was Ong’ondo Were’s fiercest rival during the 2022 general election.
His lawyer, Danstan Omari had on Monday told the court that he wants to be released so he can go and pray at the grave of the late MP.
However, magistrate Gicobi restricted Aroko from setting foot in the constituency, which is in Homa Bay county.
Aroko is also barred from contacting the MP’s family members, other suspects, or any individuals linked to the case.
The bail conditions, particularly the restriction on traveling to the region, aim to prevent potential interference with witnesses and evidence collection.
The hunt for those behind the brutal murder of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were has taken a sharp turn after the arrest of a critical suspect.
In a major breakthrough, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested a man they believe transported the MP’s killers on his motorcycle.
Tracked down in the densely populated Kibera Darajani area, the suspect—posing as a common bodaboda rider—turned out to be more than just a casual bystander. He was allegedly the key transport link in the carefully coordinated attack that left the MP dead.
His capture unravels part of a larger web of organized crime, suggesting that Were’s assassination was no random act but a calculated hit backed by a criminal network.
Here is how the police pieced together the puzzle and cornered a man hiding behind the mask of a bodaboda operator.
He told detectives the killers approached him with a tempting offer—Ksh50,000 for just a few hours of work. His task was simple: follow a marked car, stay close without raising suspicion, and be ready for a quick escape. He followed the orders without hesitation. [Photo: Courtesy]
Police Nab Bodaboda Rider Who Transported MP Were’s Killer
The rider was arrested during a targeted operation led by DCI detectives following weeks of forensic analysis and surveillance. His bike, a Bajaj Boxer, was identified as the one used by the killers to trail MP Charles Ong’ondo Were moments before he was fatally shot on April 30.
CCTV footage showed the same motorbike cruising near Parliament buildings and later speeding away from the crime scene near City Mortuary roundabout along Ngong Road. Investigators flagged the motorcycle and launched a manhunt.
The suspect, who was found in possession of the same bike, confessed to receiving Ksh50,000 for aiding the assailants. He admitted to ferrying them to and from the murder scene and knew they intended to target the lawmaker.
Upon interrogation, the man also revealed disturbing details. Far from being a regular rider, he had a dark past. He had previously served time at the Industrial Area Prison. There, he reportedly met other members of the gang behind MP Were’s assassination.
“The accused is a habitual criminal who often works with armed gangs under the guise of a boda boda operator,” the DCI said. “He was not just a transporter—he was part of the plan.”
The recovered motorcycle provided the final link between him and the crime. It matched every detail captured on security cameras. From the license plate to the unique markings, police say there was no doubt it was the same bike.
The motorcycle used in the attack became crucial evidence. It was first seen on CCTV trailing the MP near Parliament, then later captured speeding away from the murder scene near City Mortuary after gunshots rang out. [Photo: Courtesy]
Rider Turned Informant Opens Up to Detectives
Once in custody, the suspect chose to speak. According to investigators, he did not deny his role. Instead, he laid out how he was recruited, how the plan was laid, and how he was compensated.
He said the attackers approached him with an offer he couldn’t refuse. Ksh50,000 for a few hours of work. He claimed they gave him basic instructions: trail a certain car, wait nearby, and be ready to drive off at high speed. He did exactly that.
What he did not expect, perhaps, was the attention this would draw. But from the moment MP Were was gunned down, detectives began studying every lead.
The suspect’s confession has since helped police piece together the sequence of events. It confirms earlier suspicions that the killing was not an act of road rage or a botched robbery—but a well-funded, well-executed assassination.
Motorcycle Matches Footage as Police Zero In
The bike used in the attack became the smoking gun in this case. It was first spotted on CCTV near Parliament following the MP’s official schedule. Then, the same motorcycle was seen in a blurry clip speeding away after the gunshots were fired near City Mortuary.
Detectives knew they had to find the bike. And they did. During the operation in Kibera, the motorcycle was found parked near the suspect’s hideout. Forensic experts combed through it, confirming it had been used recently and bore distinctive features shown in the footage.
More importantly, mobile phone records placed the suspect in the vicinity of the crime scene. His communication history also linked him to individuals previously arrested in connection with the murder.
Authorities say he didn’t just happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. He was central to the operation. A man trusted enough by the killers to drive them in and out safely.
Now facing arraignment, the suspect could help unlock more layers of the conspiracy. Investigations are ongoing, and more arrests are expected.
