Court told how MP Charles Ong'ondo Were was betrayed to his death
The Kibera High Court was on Monday presented with a chilling account of betrayal, greed, and conspiracy in the killing of former Kasipul MP Charles Ong'ondo Were.
Prosecutors told Justice Diana Kavedza that the murder was carefully orchestrated by five accused persons, including a trusted bodyguard, and executed with cold precision.
Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Gikui Gichuhi, speaking for the DPP, said investigators had uncovered a network of individuals who conspired to eliminate Were to protect secrets and satisfy greed.
“The prosecution will present credible and cogent evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the five accused jointly planned and orchestrated this heinous act,” Gichuhi told the court.
The accused, William Imoli alias Imo, Edwin Odour Odhiambo alias Machuani, Ebel Ochieng alias Dave Calo, Isaac Kuria, and Allan Ogola, are alleged to have murdered Were on the night of 30 April 2025, around 7:40 p.m.
According to prosecutors, each accused played a distinct role in the plot:
The first accused allegedly meticulously planned the sequence of events on the fateful day, ensuring every step would lead to the death of Were.
The second accused is said to have secured the murder weapon and helped conceal it after the crime, facilitating the execution.
The third accused acted as the mastermind pulling the strings, providing instructions and financing the killing to protect personal secrets, without ever touching the weapon.
The fourth accused reportedly pulled the trigger, motivated by financial gain.
The fifth accused, a figure who held a position of trust, allegedly ensured that Were was delivered into the hands of his killers.
The prosecution stressed that the bodyguard assigned to protect Were had been corrupted.
He collaborated secretly with the conspirators to betray the very person he was meant to safeguard.
“Before this court today, we speak for a life that was brutally and unlawfully taken away. The deceased was not just a victim; he was an MP, a father, and a husband,” Gichuhi told the court.
Investigators say testimonial, documentary, and forensic evidence has been pieced together to demonstrate that only the five accused are responsible, with no evidence implicating any others.
The DPP team, led by Vincent Monda, Gikui Gichuhi, Peris Maina, and Christine Timoi, informed the court that the evidence has been categorised to help the court navigate the complex narrative of events.
The prosecution painted a vivid picture of treachery within close quarters, where a combination of financial greed, personal secrecy, and abuse of trust converged to end the life of a man entrusted by the people with leadership.
“The third accused is the man who pulled the strings. The evidence will show he wanted the deceased eliminated to bury his secrets and, rather than pulling the trigger himself, provided orders and funding to satisfy his evil desire,” Gichuhi added.
The prosecution concluded that the murder was not random or opportunistic.
It was a pre-meditated act, executed with precise coordination to ensure the plan succeeded.
“The deceased was not just a life lost; he was a public servant, a voice for his people, a father whose children looked up to him, and a husband whose family depended on him. We owe it to him to see justice done,” Gichuhi told the court.
Monday’s hearing marked the beginning of a trial that promises to unearth betrayal at the highest levels of personal trust, detailing a chilling narrative of friends turned foes, and loyalty replaced with lethal greed.
The case is now set to unfold in multiple sessions, as the court examines testimony, forensic reports, and documentary evidence, providing a window into a plot that shook Kasipul and the nation.
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