Businessman Phillip Aroko, the primary suspect in the murder of Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Were, has been released on a cash bail of Ksh.300,000 by the Kibera Law Courts.
Aroko, who had previously been detained to allow investigators to finalize their probe, was freed after the prosecution confirmed that key investigative milestones had been achieved. This included recording his official statement and verifying other pieces of evidence linked to the case.
“Given the seven days granted by the court, we have sufficiently utilized the time to cover critical areas in our investigations,” the prosecution told the court, while requesting Aroko’s release under the original bail terms issued by the JKIA court.
Representing himself, Aroko pledged to adhere to all bail conditions, including surrendering his passport to the court as a demonstration of compliance.
Earlier, on May 20, 2025, the High Court had overturned the JKIA Chief Magistrate’s decision to grant Aroko bail, siding with the prosecution’s application to detain him for seven more days. Justice Kavenza ruled that the extension was necessary due to the delicate and extensive nature of the case and emphasized that the temporary detention was a proportionate measure meant to allow detectives to finalize their leads without infringing on the suspect’s rights.
The arrest of Aroko followed the shocking discovery of MP Charles Were’s body in Nairobi under mysterious circumstances—a tragedy that sparked nationwide attention and calls for justice from both political leaders and the public.
With Aroko now out on bail, the case is expected to enter a more intensive phase as the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and law enforcement determine the next legal steps, including whether Aroko will be formally charged with murder.
The release has stirred fresh scrutiny over the progress and transparency of the investigation, as Kenyans continue to follow the case closely, seeking answers in the high-profile killing of a sitting MP.
