Detectives sieve through pieces of evidence at the scene where Kasipul MP Ong'ondo Were was shot dead along Ngong Road, Nairobi, on May 1, 2025.:PHOTO:POOL
The National Police Service has announced the arrest of four suspects in connection with the assassination of Kasipul Member of Parliament, Charles Ong’ondo Were, who was shot dead in Nairobi on the evening of April 30, 2025.
In a major breakthrough, the suspects were apprehended in Eastlands, Nairobi, during a Saturday night operation led by the Operational Support Unit of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The arrests follow days of intensive surveillance, forensic analysis, and review of CCTV footage along key locations the MP traveled before his murder.
According to Director of Corporate Communication at the National Police Service, Muchiri Nyaga, one of the suspects was tracked to an apartment near United States International University (USIU), where police also recovered the getaway vehicle believed to have been used in the attack.
“Upon further analysis of previously obtained leads, officers from the National Police Service swiftly conducted an operation and successfully arrested four suspects who had been positively placed at the crime scene,” said Nyaga.
Two motorcycles believed to have been used to trail the MP were also recovered during a separate operation in Dandora.
While investigators have yet to recover the murder weapon, the suspects are being interrogated to establish the motive and identify all accomplices involved.
Nyaga noted that some of the arrested individuals are believed to be affiliated with known criminal gangs such as Mjahidin, which has previously been linked to armed robberies and violent crimes in Nairobi’s Eastlands area.
“Our investigators and technical teams are working tirelessly, leveraging their expertise to bring all those involved to justice,” Nyaga added.
The MP was killed in a targeted attack at around 7:40 p.m. near City Mortuary along Ngong Road. A lone gunman, riding on a sports bike, fired four shots into the passenger side of the MP’s vehicle at close range before fleeing the scene.
The MP sustained gunshot wounds to the chest and hand and was pronounced dead on arrival at Nairobi Hospital. His driver and bodyguard were unhurt.
CCTV footage showed the MP being followed by the suspects from Parliament through City Hall Way, Wabera Street, Kenyatta Avenue, and Jakaya Kikwete Road, before the fatal shooting on Valley Road.
The attackers are also believed to have had lunch at a restaurant on Kimathi Street earlier that day while monitoring the MP’s movements.
President William Ruto, speaking during public rallies in Migori and Suna East, strongly condemned the murder and assured the public of swift justice.
“We lost our MP Ong’ondo, and I want to assure you that those who were involved will not go scot-free. They have nowhere to hide,” said President Ruto.
“Lawlessness and violence cannot be part of our culture. We have a country to protect. Stability and peace are major ingredients in development and economic growth.”
Detectives have questioned multiple witnesses, including the MP’s driver, bodyguard, and an M-Pesa agent who interacted with the MP moments before the shooting. The team also visited Parliament Buildings, where the MP had spent the day attending to official duties.
Authorities have cautioned politicians and the public against making statements that may compromise the ongoing investigation.
“We urge the public to remain calm and refrain from speculating, as our team works diligently to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation,” said Nyaga.
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