Two guns recovered in Kayole raid as detectives close in on MP Were’s killers
Alongside the weapons, officers recovered a bag and shoes believed to have been worn by the prime suspect on the day of the killing. The team described the items as critical evidence.
Detectives investigating the killing of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were made a key breakthrough during a Tuesday night raid in Kayole, recovering two pistols, one of which they believe was used in the deadly attack.
The firearms were found in a house located in the Chokaa area of Kayole following a daylong police operation.
According to officers leading the investigation, one of the pistols is directly linked to the shooting that claimed the MP’s life. The other will undergo forensic tests to determine its owner and whether it has been used in other crimes.
Alongside the weapons, officers recovered a bag and shoes believed to have been worn by the prime suspect on the day of the killing. The team described the items as critical evidence.
Ballistic tests on bullets retrieved from the crime scene and the MP’s body had earlier confirmed that the gun used in the shooting was also used in at least three other attacks—in Komarocks and Kayole in Nairobi, and Ndumberi, Kiambu County.
An autopsy showed the MP was shot five times. The bullets tore through vital organs, including his heart. The attack happened on April 30 along Valley Road near City Mortuary, while the MP was seated in his car.
At the time, his driver and bodyguard were also in the vehicle. The bodyguard, seated in the back, was unharmed. He jumped out of the car during the chaos as the attacker fled on a motorcycle. Witnesses said he briefly chased the motorbike before returning to assist the driver in rushing the injured MP to Nairobi Hospital.
Persons of interest
Police later arrested and detained both the driver and the bodyguard on Tuesday night. They are now being treated as persons of interest after giving conflicting statements about the events before and after the shooting.
Four other suspects are already in custody. One of them was found with Sh615,000 in his Nairobi home, which police suspect may have been payment for the assassination. The origin of the money and the motive for the killing are still under investigation.
The four suspects in the murder of Kasipul MP Charles Ong'ondo Were cover their faces during their appearance at JKIA Court on May 5, 2025. (Photo: Courtesy)
As part of the wider probe, officers recovered police uniforms and several mobile phones, which are now being examined for leads. Three suspects, William Imoli Shighali (also known as Omar Shakur), Douglas Muchiri Wambugu, and David Mihigo Kagame, were arrested at Zeitun Lounge in Roysambu.
The suspects led detectives to the home of police officer Juma Ali Hikal in Pangani, where officers recovered a vehicle believed to have been used in the MP’s killing.
Court records show the suspects were in contact before and after the shooting. CCTV footage reviewed by police captured Shighali following the MP along Wabera Street in Nairobi while carrying a bag believed to contain the murder weapon. He was seen wearing police boots later recovered at Juma’s home.
Further searches at Juma’s house uncovered ammunition, teargas canisters, and other items—all now undergoing forensic analysis. At Shighali’s home, police also found police uniforms, more than $4,800 in cash, and multiple mobile phones.
“Thousands of minutes of CCTV footage have been reviewed in an attempt to reconstruct the final moments of the late MP,” the prosecution told the court.
“Nine live rounds of ammunition and teargas canisters were also found at the second respondent’s home,” the court was informed.
Police suspect the killing was organised by a well-financed criminal network. They are pursuing more suspects, including a motorcycle rider believed to have helped the attacker flee, and others thought to have communicated with the suspects during the planning.
Detectives are also tracking a police officer believed to have played a central role in the planning. Investigators say the officer used a newly registered mobile number—now deactivated and linked to a fake identity—to coordinate the hit.
A Chief Magistrate’s Court at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has granted the Directorate of Criminal Investigations 30 days to detain the four main suspects as investigations continue.
The MP’s body will be flown to Homa Bay County on Thursday ahead of his burial on Friday in Kachien Village, Kasipul Constituency. The funeral is expected to draw top political and national leaders.
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