The High Court in Nairobi fell silent on Monday as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) peeled back the layers of a meticulously planned assassination that claimed the life of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were. In a gripping opening statement before Lady Justice Diana Kavedza, Senior Assistant DPP Gikui Gichuhi described the murder as a classic tale of treachery, fueled by greed and executed by those sworn to protect the legislator.

The prosecution’s case hinges on the shocking revelation that the MP’s own bodyguard, Allan Ogola, was an integral part of the kill team. Ogola, listed as the fifth accused, allegedly abused his position of trust to deliver the MP into the hands of his executioners. The DPP asserted that the state has assembled "credible and cogent evidence" to prove that the five accused persons jointly conspired to eliminate the MP on the night of April 30, 2025.

The Anatomy of a Hit

The five suspects—William Imoli, Edwin Odour Odhiambo, Ebel Ochieng, Isaac Kuria, and Allan Ogola—sat in the dock as their specific roles were outlined. The state alleges a clear division of labor: a mastermind who orchestrated the plan, a logistics man who supplied the murder weapon, a financier who funded the operation, and a hitman who pulled the trigger. The inclusion of the bodyguard as the inside man adds a sinister dimension to the case, suggesting the MP never stood a chance.

• The Suspects: William Imoli (Mastermind), Edwin Odour Odhiambo (Weapon Supplier), Ebel Ochieng (Funder/Orchestrator), Isaac Kuria (Trigger Man), and Allan Ogola (The Insider).
• Forensic Evidence: The prosecution has promised to rely on a trove of forensic data, including phone triangulations and ballistics, to link the men to the scene at the City Mortuary Roundabout.
• Witness Threats: The trial has already been marred by drama, with reports that one suspect, Ebel Ochieng, threatened a prosecutor in court, leading to the denial of bond.

Seeking Justice for a Fallen Leader

“This was not a random act of violence; it was a cold-blooded contract killing,” Gichuhi told the court. The murder of the two-term ODM MP sent shockwaves through the political establishment, raising fears about the safety of VIPs. The trial is expected to be lengthy and emotive, with the late MP's family looking to the judiciary for closure.

As the first witnesses take the stand, the country watches to see if the state can secure convictions in a high-profile murder case, a feat that has often proved elusive in Kenya’s judicial history. For the constituents of Kasipul, the proceedings are a painful reminder of the leader they lost to a bullet.