Judge denies bail, orders mental assessment after UDA official threatens prosecutor in Kasipul MP case
Ebel Ochieng Kalo, a board member of the Lake Basin Development Authority, is in custody over the killing of Kasipul MP Charles Were and appeared before Justice Diana Kavedza at the Milimani Law Courts.
A murder case involving a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) official took a dramatic twist on Wednesday after a suspect threatened to kill a State Prosecutor during a court session.
Ebel Ochieng Kalo, a board member of the Lake Basin Development Authority, is in custody over the killing of Kasipul MP Charles Were and appeared before Justice Diana Kavedza at the Milimani Law Courts.
During the hearing, the prosecution informed the court that Kalo had openly threatened to kill Allen Mulama, an officer from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, forcing the prosecutor to leave the courtroom.
"One of the accused persons, Ebel Ochieng, has threatened to kill the ODPP officer, Allan Mulama, forcing the state counsel to excuse himself from court," the prosecution told the judge.
The remarks caused shock in court, with Justice Kavedza reacting immediately by ordering enhanced security due to the seriousness of the threat.
"I take note that the accused person has threatened to kill the prosecutor. The mere utterance of the words ‘huyu tutamuua’—the question is, what about the witnesses? On these grounds, the three are denied bond/bail. The first accused is to be escorted to Mathari Hospital for assessment," she ruled.
The court further directed that all three accused persons be remanded at Nairobi Remand Prison. The third accused will remain in isolation until a mental health assessment is complete.
The matter will be mentioned again on June 17.
"This is deeply troubling. We intend to pursue this matter conclusively with the police. The court’s intervention is urgently needed," the prosecution added.
In a separate virtual session, Justice Margaret Muigai ordered that two other suspects in the same case—Isaack Kuria and Allan Omondi Ogolla—undergo mental assessment before taking plea.
Kuria and Ogolla were also ordered to be given legal representation and held at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison.
The two will be detained separately as investigations continue, including the possibility of plea agreements.
The late MP Were was shot dead on April 30 at the City Mortuary roundabout in Nairobi during evening traffic.
Police said a gunman jumped off a motorcycle at a red light and fired at close range before escaping.
Among the key suspects are the MP’s bodyguard, Allan Omondi, and his driver, Walter Owino, who are alleged to be part of a wider criminal network linked to the killing.
