In today’s court news, prominent lawyer Danstan Omari, who also represents Pastor Ezekiel, has taken up the defense of Philip Aroko and Ebel Ochieng in a high-profile murder investigation. The state is seeking a court order to detain the duo for 30 working days as part of ongoing investigations into the killing of Hon. Charles Were.
On Thursday, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), acting on a request from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), presented five suspects before Magistrate Gichobi at the JKIA Law Courts. The state requested permission to hold the suspects in custody for 30 days to allow investigators time to complete their inquiries.
According to the DCI, the five suspects; Ebel Ochieng, also known as Dave Calo and a board member of the Lake Basin Development Authority, Edwin Oduor Odhiambo, Dennis Sewell Manyasi, Allan Ogola Omondi, and Walter Owino Awino, are being investigated in connection with the murder of Hon. Charles Were. The charges fall under Sections 203 and 204 of the Penal Code, which deal with murder and its penalties.
The ODPP stated in its application that Hon. Were was fatally shot while driving near the City Mortuary roundabout on Valley Road in Nairobi on April 30, 2025. The five suspects have been identified as persons of interest in what is being treated as a targeted assassination.
The DCI believes the suspects may possess vital information that could shed light on the circumstances surrounding Hon. Were’s murder and potentially lead to more arrests. During the arrest of Edwin Oduor and Dennis Sewell, investigators reportedly recovered two pistols, nine rounds of ammunition, a bag, and a pair of shoes matching descriptions of items worn by one of the individuals seen at the crime scene.
The suspects will remain in custody until tomorrow for a ruling on whether the JKIA Law Court has jurisdiction to entertain their custodial order application.
