Another suspect was at the
weekend for the murder of
Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were.
Detectives
investigating the assassination of the late MP arrested the suspect, identified as "Kush",
not his real name, in Isebania at the Kenya-Tanzania border while planning to
flee the country.
Kush
is suspected to have been part of the gang that carried out the hit on the late
MP before staging a calculated escape.
This
brings to 11 the number of suspects in custody over the murder of the MP,
which happened on April 30, 2025.
Kush,
who is reportedly linked to a criminal network operating within Nairobi, is
believed to have travelled to the Central Business District on the day of the
murder with the assassination mission.
Mobile
phone triangulation has placed him at various primary crime scenes.
He had
the motorcycle that was involved in the attack.
After the attack, Kush is said
to have fled to Mihango in Kayole, where he disposed of the murder weapon, which police and ballistic tests have since recovered and confirmed it was used.
He
then embarked on a journey to Narok by another motorbike to evade police
detection.
He
left his motorcycle in Narok and hopped onto a public service vehicle to
Isebania.
He has
been in communication with a relative in Tanzania, coordinating an escape plan,
police say.
Detectives,
who were monitoring communications between Kuria and other suspects already in
custody, tracked and arrested him at a local lodging in Isebania.
Another
man found with him was also detained, police said.
Both
were transferred to Nairobi and are expected to appear at the JKIA Law Courts.
Among
those already detained are Were’s bodyguard Allan Omondi, his driver Walter
Owino, and William Imoli, who is believed to have played a central role in
planning and financing the assassination on behalf of others who have not been
arrested.
Others
include businessman and politician Phillip Aroko and Lake Basin Development
Authority Director Ebel Ochieng—both alleged financiers—along with Edwin Oduor
and Dennis Manyasi.
The
Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has indicated that efforts to
apprehend other individuals believed to have been involved in the planning and
execution of the murder are ongoing.
Detectives are also
analysing financial transactions connected to the suspects, which may shed
light on the motive behind the assassination.
Were
was gunned down in traffic in what police believe was a well-orchestrated
political hit.
Police
say cash recovered from some of the suspects was a proceeds of the crime.
Some
of the suspects have confessed they were paid in US dollars to eliminate the MP.
Inspector
General of police Douglas Kanja said the cash recovered is part of the exhibit
they have as evidence to the case.
“Other
exhibits collected at the initial stages of the investigation include
surveillance footage capturing critical moments before and after the incident,
Identification of a vehicle used to transport the suspects to the crime scene
and financial proceeds linked to the suspects.”
“These
exhibits are undergoing forensic analysis to further strengthen the case and
clarify the circumstances surrounding Were's murder,” he said.
One of
the suspects arrested had Sh615,000 in his house in Nairobi, believed to have
been paid for the mission. Detectives
are trying to establish the source of the money, which was in US dollars, and the
motive.
The police said the murder
was planned way before its execution,n with meetings within and outside Nairobi.
