DCI reveal slain MP Were had been threatened by a neighbour prior to his death
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is seeking to detain five more persons of interest, including the bodyguard and driver linked to the murder of the late Kasipul Member of Parliament (MP) Charles Ong’ondo Were.
In an application filed at the Jomo Kenya International Airport (JKIA) court on Wednesday, May 8, 2025, the DCI stated that they need to detain Ebel Ochieng alias Dave Calo, Edwin Oduor, Dennis Manyasi, Allan Ogola and Walter Owino for them to complete investigations.
They further state that the images that were captured in CCTV footages resemble some of the arraigned persons of interest and therefore, they need to verify through forensic investigations and identification before deciding to charge them.
“In the course of this trailing, the suspects were captured by various CCTV cameras within the city center and along the route that was used by the deceased person,” part of the miscellaneous application read.
According to the DCI, one of the persons of interest in Were’s murder one Ebel Ochieng alias Dave Calo, who is a close neighbor to the deceased at his rural home in Homabay, had threatened him before he was killed.
“It has since emerged that the 1st respondent (Ebel Ochieng alias Dave Calo) is a close neighbor to the deceased at his rural home in Homabay, had threatened the deceased before this fatal incident,” part of the application read.
They also state that Ochieng’s name has been mentioned several times by some of the already arrested persons of interest detained in police custody.
“The 1st respondent (Ebel Ochieng) has been adversely been mentioned by some suspects who are already in the custody as the person behind the planning and execution of the crime,” part of the miscellaneous read.
Notably, the DCI state that they have identified more scenes of crime where it is believed that the murder was orchestrated before the execution that they need to visit for documentation and retrieval of more evidence.
Further, they reveal that the persons of interests were in constant communication immediately before, during and after the commission of the crime and were near the various scenes of crime where the deceased’s car passed through.
They also state that there is likelihood that the five jointly with others still at large were involved in the planning and execution of the murder.
However, the miscellaneous application to detain them was not argued after the defense team contested the jurisdictions of the court to hear the application.
Meanwhile, the defense team sought to have their clients be presented at the Milimani Law Courts or Kibera Law Courts.
Principal Magistrate Irene Gichobi will deliver the ruling on the applications, on Friday, May 9, 2025.
