Three suspects in the murder of Kasipul Member of Parliament (MP) Charles Ong’ondo Were, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder.
Appearing before Kibera High Court, Lady Justice Diana Kavedza, William Imoli Imo Shigali, Edwin Oduor Odhiambo, Ebel Ochieng alias Dave Calo, denied committing the offence of murder contrary to section 203 as read with section 204 of the Penal Code.
According to the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), the three were involved in the gruesome murder of the Kasipul MP, which happened near the City mortuary, along Ngong Road, on the night of April 30, 2025.
“The court is informed by the DPP on behalf of the republic that you, three persons William Imoli Imo Shigali, Edwin Oduor Odhiambo, Ebel Ochieng alias Dave Calo, on the night of April 30, 2025 at about 7:40 PM near City Mortuary along Ngong road in Kilimani Sub-County, within Nairobi County, jointly with others not before this court, you murdered Charles Ong’ondo Were,” Lady Justice Kavedza read the charge.
Meanwhile, the second accused person, William Imoli Imo Shigali, requested to address the court during the plea taking where he has stated that he is innocent.
He said he does not want to waste the court’s time, and he said he is ready to tell the court the truth.
“I want to tell the court the truth of the matter; I am innocent and I did not in any way involve myself in the murder of the deceased MP Were,” Imoli Imo Shigali told the court.
Further, Shigali requested the court to direct his phone’s data to be extracted to confirm that he was not in any way involved in the murder.
“Mimi nataka kuelezea mahakama hiki kitendo sikijui maana sikuhusika, your honour nikikamatwa nilikua simu yangu, naomba simu yangu ieze kutolewa data ya hio siku kitendo ilitendeka. (I want to tell the court that I do not know about this incident, and I was not involved in it, your honour, when I was arrested, I had my phone and am asking the data of the said date the incident took place be extracted).”
Request for bail
The lawyers representing the accused persons, led by John Swak, requested the court to release their clients on bail, stating that they are not a flight risk, because they all have well-known fixed abodes.
Lawyer Swaka said that there are no compelling reasons presented to the court to deny the three bail.
However, the DPP opposed the release of the three on cash bail, citing that the third accused person, Ebel Ochieng, alias Dave Calo, had earlier threatened to kill a state counsel; thus, releasing him would endanger their lives.
Notably, the DPP also stated that the three accused persons are at flight risk, adding that the third accused switched his known phone number, bought a different line and went into hiding in Nakuru, where he was smoked out.
“Immediately after the fatal incident of the deceased, the third accused person switched his known mobile phone, got a new phone, and escaped to Nakuru, where he was arrested in his hideout in a guest house,” the DPP submitted to court.
The state urged the court to consider the compelling grounds they have presented, and deny the three bail, so as to ensure the safety of state counsels and witnesses.
“We pray that the accused person remains in custody until this matter is determined by this court, so that whenever we walk in this court or around, we be safe,” the DPP submitted to the court.
The matter will be mentioned on July 17, 2025, to confirm the probation report and further directions.
