PS Fikirini Jacobs' bodyguard freed on Ksh.20,000 bond over fatal shooting

The matter came up before the Makadara Law Courts, where Resident Magistrate J. Mayiah, presiding virtually, directed that the case be mentioned on August 10 for further directions.

During the proceedings, Charo's legal team successfully applied for his release from custody, together with the return of his personal effects, including his service firearm.

Charo was arrested last week and formally arraigned on July 2, days after the shooting that has stirred public tension in Kariokor and its environs. He remains under investigation over the death of Cecil Otieno Anyango, who was fatally shot inside a vehicle linked to PS Jacobs along Park Road.

According to police, the incident occurred on June 30 at around 1pm after PS Jacobs attended a function at Social Hall, Kariokor.

As he left the venue escorted by his bodyguards, Charo and No. 251661 PC Peter Keter, a group of youths reportedly demanded handouts from him.

Anyango is alleged to have boarded the PS's official Land Cruiser, registration number GKC 526C, prompting the driver to speed off towards Pangani Police Station as members of the public pursued the vehicle on foot and motorcycles.

In the ensuing chaos, the crowd pelted the vehicle with stones, and Charo discharged his firearm, fatally wounding Anyango. He was rushed to Park Road Nursing Home by well-wishers, where he was pronounced dead while undergoing treatment.

The incident was reported at Pangani Police Station and investigations were taken over by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Starehe Sub-County. Charo was later arrested at Muthaiga Police Station after recording a statement at the DCI Nairobi North Sub-Region offices.

In an earlier application, prosecutors had sought to have Charo detained for seven days at Pangani Police Station to allow investigators to conclude a raft of pending procedures, among them a post mortem examination to establish the exact cause of Anyango's death, ballistic and forensic analysis of the firearm and recovered exhibits, recording of witness statements, and reconstruction of the scene to establish the sequence of events.

The prosecution had also argued that releasing Charo before investigations were complete could compromise his safety, given the tension the shooting had generated in the area, and had asked the court to compile the investigation file for submission to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for further directions.