Detectives have arrested four suspects in the murder of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were and recovered the vehicle that they used in surveillance hours before the shooting.

The motorcycle, which the gunmen used, has also been recovered in Dandora, Nairobi, where the man, believed to have been the rider, was arrested

One of the suspects believed to have shot Were is said to be from Migori County, and was arrested yesterday at around 2 am off Thika Road near United States International University (USIU) where the vehicle, said to belong to him, was also recovered.

The National Police Service spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said apart from the vehicle, the investigators also recovered crucial evidence linked to the crime.

“Some of the suspects are members of organised criminal gangs, such as Mjahidin, which has been linked to armed robberies in the Eastlands area of Nairobi,” Muchiri said.

AP appointment

One of the suspects was found in possession of an Administration Police Service (APS) Certificate of Appointment. He claims to be a police officer but has not been reporting to work. Detectives yesterday forwarded his details to APS headquarters, Jogoo House, for confirmation.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Mohammed Amin however, said the detectives are yet to recover the pistol used in the shooting.

Two other motorcycles found in Dandora were also confiscated as detectives probe if they are linked to other crimes.

“The killers escaped from the scene using the motorcycle and later picked the car which had also been trailing them from town,” the detectives said.

The car was at one point captured entering a petrol station near Daystar University. The same car was earlier captured on security cameras near Parliament Buildings, at a parking next to Equity Bank.

It was later captured along City Hall Way, Wabera Street, and Kenyatta Avenue. Reports indicate that the suspects drove to town earlier in the day as they monitored the slain MP’s movement. They even had a meal at a restaurant along Kimathi Street, according to detectives.

Grilled by police

The vehicle was parked not far from the Parliament, and they initially used it to trail the MP before they jumped onto the motorcycle.

The suspects have been grilled, and police said they had obtained crucial leads that will help in identifying the other suspects and establishing the sponsors and the motive of the getaway shooting.

“The car is believed to have trailed him from Parliament, which indicates it was within the precincts waiting for him for hours. Part of the probe is to establish how the killers knew the MP had changed cars for safety reasons,” a detective said.

The arrested suspects have also been forensically placed at all the routes that the MP used before he was shot on April 30.

“The detectives have placed the suspects at key areas where the MP was. He is the one who pulled the trigger,” said a detective aware of the probe. The killer used the element of surprise and exploited the bodyguard’s lack of preparation and ability to respond effectively.

According to the bodyguard who was armed and seated on the back seat, he could not respond immediately since he was disoriented by the sudden and unexpected nature of the attack.

“It took them a few seconds to realise what had happened. By then, the gunman and the rider had sped off from the scene,” they said.

At around 7.30pm, Were’s vehicle, a white Toyota Crown, registration number KDM 783A came to a stop at a red traffic light on Ngong Road, near the City Mortuary roundabout.

According to eyewitnesses and CCTV footage seen by detectives, two men riding on a motorcycle stopped alongside the car. The two seemed to have been trailing the MP’s car.

“The pillion passenger approached the vehicle and fired shots at the passenger side before jumping back onto the motorcycle and speeding away,” police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said.The driver and the MP’s bodyguard were not injured and they rushed him to Nairobi Hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

“The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and premeditated,” police added.

MP Were, who was seated on the co-driver’s seat, was shot at least four to five times, with two bullets lodged in the body while the others went through the chest to the back, according to the police.

The deceased had earlier, about two months ago, received threats before his death and informed both the public and the DCI about his safety concerns.

Mbita Constituency MP Millie Odhiambo said the day Were was killed he looked distracted but she did not have any chance to talk to him.

Appeared distracted

“He appeared distracted, unlike his usual self. I wanted to go and say hi, but they were conversing with Hon Obara and another member,” Odhiambo said.

The slain MP had also blamed external forces for the disturbances in his area, alleging that non-residents were inciting chaos at public events.

One alarming incident he mentioned occurred the previous week in Nyatindo East Kamagak ward, where suspected thugs disrupted a funeral. MP Were also criticised the county’s top security official for failing to comment on these attacks.

Some of the Homabay leaders and residents have however said the MP had sponsored goons in the Constituency that had left several people injured and others killed.

During the burial of Evans Okoda who was murdered in May 2 last year, for example, Odoyo Owidi linked Were to the death of Okoda who had once served as Evans Kidero’s bodyguard.

“So many people do not have ears, noses, and are even crippled. Some children are orphaned and women widowed because of Ong’ondo Were,” Odoyo Owidi said. Okoda was murdered near his rented house in Oyugis town. His right hand was cut off, as was his tongue. The deceased’s face was also disfigured.

Yesterday, President William Ruto ordered a full-scale investigation and crackdown on those responsible for the assassination of Were.

Speaking during an interdenominational prayer service in Migori County, President Ruto condemned the killing as “inhumane” and directed the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to ensure all perpetrators and their collaborators are swiftly brought to justice.