Were was shot dead outside his house in the Woodley suburb of Nairobi/file
Were was shot dead in January 2008, outside his house in the Woodley suburb of Nairobi.
He had just been elected Member of Parliament for Embakasi under the Orange Democratic Movement party, before violence broke out in the disputed presidential vote pitting former President Mwai Kibaki and ODM’s Raila Odinga.
Trial judge Luka Kimaru sent James Omondi alias Castro and two others to the gallows after he found them guilty of killing the former MP at the height of post-election violence.
While delivering the verdict of the murder case which has dragged in court for seven years, Justice Kimaru said the prosecution had proved its case beyond any reasonable that Omondi alias Castro, Wycliffe Simiyu alias Zimbo, and Paul Omondi alias Papa shot and killed Were.
He commended the police for conducting investigations surrounding the murder case with professionalism and diligence saying it assisted the court in arriving at a just decision.
“The court applauds the senior officers who investigated the murder case as they did it with constitutionalism, professionalism and much diligence. It is my hope they apply the same in other criminal cases,” he appealed.
The judge however acquitted Mary Muthoni Wamaitha saying the court found no sufficient evidence linking her to the murder.
Were’s widow, Agnes Wairimu, welcomed the judgment saying the court has vindicated her since some people who she did not name had silently accused her of murdering her husband.
“I am very happy because of the verdict because now we know who took the life of my late husband. Justice has been done even though it took seven years. The verdict has proved I had nothing to do with his death,” she said.
About The Author
