Private guard Chris Obure admits handling gun that shot car dealer Kelvin Omwenga
A private bodyguard employed by a city businessman Chris Obure has admitted in court he had in his possession a pistol and ammunition despite not having a license to operate one on the day Kevin Omwenga, a city trader, was shot dead.
Robert John Ouko Bodo admitted before Milimani senior principal magistrate Bernard Ochoi that on August 2, 2020, he had in possession a firearm serial number B156623 make-pistol mini Ceska without a license.
The charge further states that the said pistol was used to commit the offence of murder.
On that day, Omwenga was shot at the Galana Suites and then pronounced dead upon arrival at Nairobi Womens Hospital.
Bodo was found with the gun at the Galana Suites, House Number 703 along Galana Road in Kilimani sub-county Nairobi.
While giving a sworn defense, Bodo told Ochoi that he was employed by Obure as his private guard.
Lawyer Arum Otieno led the accused while tendering a sworn testimony in his defense saying the gun had been issued by the firearms agency to Obure.
Mr Otieno showed the accused a pistol and several rounds of ammunition then asked him to confirm whether they were the ones he used to handle.
Bodo viewed the pistol and confirmed in court it is the one which he used to carry while offering security to Obure.
“Can you confirm whether this is the pistol you used to carry,” Mr Otieno asked Bodo.
“Yes it is the same pistol I used to carry. It belongs to Obure. He is the licensed owner,” Bodo stated.
The civilian guard told the magistrate he used to carry the gun while guarding his boss whenever they were out of the office.
“Every time whenever we were going out I used to get the gun from Obure then return it to the safe upon return to the office,” Bodo stated.
Cross-examined by state prosecutor James Gachoka, the accused admitted that even though he used to handle the gun he had not been issued a licence by the Firearm Licencing Bureau (FLB).
The accused further admitted that it is the same pistol that was used in the shooting incident that left one person Kevin Omwenga dead.
Bodo and Obure are jointly charged with the murder of Kevin Omwenga on August 2, 2020, at Galana Suite in Kilimani.
They have denied the charge and are both out on bond.
Bodo was found with a case to answer for being in possession of a firearm and ammunition by Mr Ochoi.
Both Mr Otieno and Mr Gachoka will tender their final submissions in the case on May 15, 2023, before a judgment and sentence are pronounced.
Obure was acquitted for the offence of failing to secure a firearm.