The suspect who shot Kasipul MP Ong’ondo Were had lunch at a restaurant along Kimathi Street, hours before he was later spotted along Wabera Street where the MP vehicle stopped and the bodyguard briefly got out of the vehicle.

In an apparently well-planned mission, the gunmen wore a hood to conceal his identity.

At the same time, the late MP’s family has claimed that the killing was a “political assassination” undertaken by some individuals said to have been opposed to the late Were’s aspiration to become Homa Bay governor in 2027.

At Wabera Street, the gunman was captured on CCTV as he was monitoring the slain MP’s car as the bodyguard got into an Mpesa shot where he deposited Sh20,000 to Were’s phone.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the two men trailed the vehicle from Parliament Building to City Hall Way, Wabera Street, Kenyatta Avenue, Jakaya Kikwete Road and later to Valley Road.

Yesterday, the DCI said it has leads on potential suspects in the murder of the MP.

“Detectives have forensically reconstructed MP Were’s movements from Parliament to the location of the shooting. This detailed analysis has yielded significant leads, enabling investigators to narrow down to potential suspects,”John Marete said in a statement on behalf of DCI boss Mohamed Amin. Marete said an autopsy led by government pathologist Johansen Oduor is scheduled on Monday.

As part of the probe, the detectives visited the last places where the MP spent his final day, including the National Assembly, and are now relying on CCTV footage and witnesses accounts.

According to reports, the MP left Parliament about 6.15 pm and the vehicle was seen heading towards City Hall Way before taking a turn onto Wabera Street.

“CCTV footage in the area captured a man wearing a hood and carrying a bag who was monitoring the car. The cameras also captured the MP and his team leaving the area at 7.19 pm and joining Kenyatta Avenue,” the detectives said.

The driver changed route and joined Jakaya Kikwete Road to evade traffic before joining Argwings Kodhek Road.

Though Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo had earlier said that Ong’ondo appeared distracted at Parliament Buildings, the demeanour of the three while driving from town revealed they were relaxed and unaware that they were being trailed very closely by the rider and his pillion.

When the vehicle stopped after the traffic lights at 7.40 pm, the gunman disembarked, went around the vehicle and went straight to his target. He fired four shots at close range, shattering the window and hitting the MP on the chest and hand.

The killer ran towards the sports bike and the rider took off, heading towards Nairobi CBD through Ngong Road.

The bodyguard, who was sitting behind the MP, reportedly told investigators that the shooting caught him unawares and he had to take cover before disembarking from the car to pursue the attackers, who were long gone.

The attack lasted less than a minute, and the MP was left pleading for help as he was bleeding profusely and was rushed to Nairobi Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The DCI’s Homicide detectives have revisited the scene and also said the three spent cartridges recovered at the scene will be subjected to ballistic analysis.

The detectives have also collected CCTV footage from several shops in the area, and recorded statements from the MP’s driver, bodyguard, the Mpesa attendant, and some staff at the restaurant where the two had lunch.

The probe has also been extended to Kasipul as police investigate whether his murder is politically motivated.

Meanwhile, the family of the late Were has called for speedy investigations into the killing they described as “ highly suspicious.”

Led by his brother Luke Were and son Boyd Were, the family claimed that the circumstances surrounding the MP’s death appeared to have been premeditated and cited alleged propaganda being spread on social media as part of an alleged scheme to defeat justice.

“We want the police to unravel the mysterious and heinous murder of my father,” said Boyd.

His plea was echoed by several other family members, who also demanded answers and accountability.

“We want the suspects brought to justice to explain why such a brutal act was committed,” Luke demanded.

The family says it has been overwhelmed by some malicious narratives being spread on social media with an alleged intention of diverting attention from the killing.

Since Wednesday evening when the MP was shot dead, social media has been abuzz with alleged narratives of individuals claiming to have suffered in the hands of the late Were.

The family has come to the defense of the slain MP, insisting that he was never involveed in any alleged violence during his time in office.

“We strongly condemn the rumours suggesting that the MP was a violent man. These are malicious claims driven by hate and political mischief,” said Luke .

He further urged authorities to investigate individuals spreading the falsehoods online and appealed for respect towards the deceased and the grieving family.

Luke also claimed that the late Were may have been a victim of political assassination as he died at a time when he was actively campaigning to become the Homa Bay County ODM chairman.

The family called for calm and tolerance as police continue with their investigationa insisting that all they want is to see police unravel what or who killed the MP.