Person of interest in the murder of MP Ong’ondo Were threatens to kill state counsel
Panic engulfed Kibera High Court on Wednesday, May 4, 2025, after one of the persons of interest in the murder of Kasipul Member of Parliament (MP) Charles Ong’ondo Were threatened to kill a state counsel.
Ebel Ochieng, alias Dave Calo, who was among the three arraigned before Kibera High Court Judge Diana Kavedza, is said to have issued the threats after the court was adjourned to prepare a ruling on a bail application.
This led to security being beefed up in the courtroom before the court proceedings resumed for the ruling.
After the court resumed, the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Gikui Gichui, informed the court that they had received information the court needed to be aware of regarding threats issued to one of them, lawyer Allen Mulama.
Further, she told the court that they had a witness, a police constable named Demian Mulongo, who heard Ochieng issuing the threats.
The constable, after being sworn in, stated that upon the court’s adjournment, Ochieng asked him about the identity of the man in court who appeared opposed to their release.
“Your Ladyship, the moment you adjourned the court, one of the suspects inquired who the slender gentleman who was submitting to the court was,” Constable Mulongo told the court.
Justice Kavedza asked the officer to repeat the exact words Ochieng used, and he said the man asked in Kiswahili, “huyu ni nani mwenye hataki tuachiliwe?“
They told him that the person he was inquiring about was a prosecutor, and Ochieng responded, “huyo tutamuua.”
The judge requested Officer Mulongo to confirm who the man was, and he pointed at Ochieng, adding that it was the gentleman in a white shirt.
Prosecutor Gichui told the court that the threats were very serious and could not be taken lightly, urging the court not to release any of them on bail or bond.
“In light of these threats confirmed by a witness in this court, we will be requesting that any bond and bail measures be denied in this matter. We shall be making an official complaint to the police,” Prosecutor Gichui told the court.
She further urged the court to provide them with adequate security, noting that they work professionally and ensure fairness and transparency.
Lawyer Mulama disappeared from the court premises immediately after they were informed of the threats Ochieng had issued.
In her ruling, Justice Kavedza stated that Ochieng’s utterances were frightening to the judicial officers, and to ensure their safety, she denied them bail.
“The mere utterance of these words has frightened the prosecutor; the application for bail for the three of you is denied at this juncture,” Justice Kavedza ruled.
She also directed that the three be remanded at Nairobi Remand, pending mental assessment at Mathari Hospital.
Notably, she ordered that the third accused, Ochieng, be isolated from the rest.
The matter will be mentioned on June 17, 2025, for further directions.
