A Kisumu law court has detained the suspect in the murder of Ida Odinga’s bodyguard for 14 days to allow police complete investigations.
Collins Okundi, a club manager was arraigned in court on Monday to answer to a murder charge for shooting and killing Barack Oduor – a police officer on Friday morning. He appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate, Stella Telewa.
Okundi did not request a bond but pleaded with the court to allow him to see a dentist before being remanded.
John Oyimba, the prosecutor in the case told the court that Okundi fled the scene of the crime after committing the murder and was arrested in Eldoret town on Sunday, October 16. The suspect was transferred to Kisumu where the case is being investigated where he recorded a statement.
“The detectives had no chance to commence significant investigations with the absence of the main suspect,” the prosecutor told the court.
Oyimba, however, urged the court to hold Okundi in custody for two weeks to allow the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to probe the matter before he is charged, adding that releasing the suspect on bond would jeopardize the investigation.
“The matter is of public interest as the deceased was Ida Odinga’s bodyguard. Granting a bond would put the accused’s life at risk,” argued Oyimba.
The accused also shot in the leg Mr Donar Kajwang who was with the deceased at the scene. Oyimba informed the court that Kajwang had been airlifted to Agha Khan Hospital, Nairobi for specialized treatment.
In her ruling, SRM Telewa granted the prosecution 14 days to complete investigations and directed that the suspect be escorted to see a dentist as per his wish. “The suspect is remanded for 14 days to give investigating officers room to finish their work,” said Telewa.
The case will be mentioned on October 31st.
