The main suspect in the killing of Kasipul MP Ong’ondo Were has accused police of torturing him while in custody and declined to plead to the murder charges during a virtual court session.

Isaac Kuria, who is alleged to have pulled the trigger in the April 30 murder of the MP in Nairobi, was presented before High Court judge Kanyi Kimondo at Milimani Law Courts alongside Allan Ogola, the lawmaker’s bodyguard. Both were expected to answer to murder charges.

Although mental assessment reports confirmed the two were fit to stand trial and the charges were formally read out, Kuria refused to take the plea, saying he wanted to appear physically in court to raise serious issues.

“Mapolisi wameni torture na pia kuna mambo nataka nielezee mahakama (Police have tortured me and there are other issues I want to tell the court),” Kuria told the judge.

He added that he had been coerced by officers at Kamiti Prison to sign forms he did not understand.

Justice Kimondo noted the concerns but said the virtual court was still a valid platform for plea-taking. He proceeded to enter a not guilty plea on Kuria’s behalf.

Ogola, a police officer, pleaded not guilty and requested lenient bond terms. His lawyer Chacha Mwita told the court that Ogola had been misled into making self-incriminating statements, which he wished to withdraw.

He asked that the statement be excluded from the prosecution’s evidence.

Kuria’s lawyer, Amisi Doris, informed the court she would also file a formal application seeking bond for her client.

However, the prosecution, through counsel Vincent Monda representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, opposed the release of the suspects on bond, stating that affidavits to support their position had already been filed.

Justice Kimondo directed the defence lawyers to submit their bond applications and replies to the prosecution’s objections ahead of the bond and bail hearing scheduled for July 14.

With the arraignment of Kuria and Ogola, the number of suspects formally charged over the MP’s murder now stands at five.

The three other suspects – William Imoli alias Imo, Edwin Odhiambo alias Machuani, and Ebel Ochieng alias Dave Calo – had earlier been charged at the Kibera High Court. Calo is a director at the Lake Basin Development Authority.

Police investigations allege that the five, along with others, conspired and executed the killing of the MP.

Earlier this month, Were’s driver Walter Owino and another suspect, Dennis Manyasi, were released by the JKIA magistrate’s court after the prosecution announced that the two would become state witnesses.

Twelve individuals had initially been arrested in connection with the MP’s murder. Five were later released unconditionally after investigations failed to link them to the crime.