Three men were Tuesday formally charged with the murder of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’odo Were.
William Imoli Shigali alias Imo, Edwin Oduor Odhiambo alias Machuani and Ebel Ochieng alias Dave Calo pleaded not guilty to the murder charges.
This is after the court was informed that the three suspects accused of murdering Kasipul Member of Parliament are mentally fit to stand trial.
The accused persons were presented in court following an earlier directive requiring them to undergo mental assessment before taking plea.
A report tabled before the court said all three have been evaluated and cleared by medical professionals, paving the way for the commencement of criminal proceedings.
The prosecution urged the court not to release the three on bail citing serious security concerns, flight risk, and the gravity of the charges.
Prosecutor Evelyn Onuga told the court that the three accused acted jointly in orchestrating the murder, with the weapon used in the killing later being recovered from the home of the second accused.
She added that communication gadgets linked to the planning of the crime have been seized and are being treated as key exhibits.
“The manner in which the deceased was murdered sends chills down the spine,” Onuda said.
The court also heard that the safety of prosecution witnesses is at risk, with several placed under the Witness Protection Agency due to expressed fears.
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