Didmus Barasa to remain in custody for 10 more days - ODPP

Granting the directive on Tuesday, ODPP said that more witnesses, including officials from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will be recording statements alongside witnesses from the National Youth Service (NYS).

"Kimilili MP, Didmus Barasa, to remain in custody for 10 more days after prosecution made an application for more time to allow detectives complete investigations and allow more witnesses, including NYS and IEBC officials to record statements.

The case, according to the ODPP, will be mentioned on Wednesday, August 24 as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji confirms the "status of investigations before making the decision to charge."

This comes after Barasa was arraigned at the Bungoma Law Courts on Monday in an online hearing to face charges of murder.

He is accused of shooting dead Brian Olunga, an aide of his main rival in the Kimilili MP race Brian Khaemba on the night of the August 9 General Election.

According to a police report, Khaemba went to Chebukwabi polling station at around 6pm on election day to observe the tallying of votes.

He however bumped into Barasa at the polling station and a scuffle soon ensued between the pair, prompting Khaemba to leave the said polling centre.

Khaemba made his way to his vehicle but “Barasa followed him in the company of four men and ordered them not to allow him (Khaemba) to leave…”

Khaemba’s driver is however said to have defied Barasa’s order and ignited the vehicle, prompting the legislator to shoot Olunga on the forehead.

He succumbed to injuries while being taken to the hospital as the legislator went missing for two days before surrendering to the police on Thursday.

The MP has however distanced himself from allegations that he had knowingly opened fire and killed Olunga in cold blood, instead insisting that the events of the day of the said incident remain blurry even to him.