Police say cash recovered from some of the suspects in the murder of Kaspul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were was a proceed 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 for 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 and the motive.
The detectives are pursuing more suspects in connection with the murder.
The suspects have been mentioned adversely in the probe and are wanted for questioning, Kanja said.
“We will continue to pursue all leads, analyse forensic evidence, and ensure that all perpetrators are brought to justice,” he said.
Other sources said the suspects who are wanted include those working in government and elective posts.
A member of a board of a parastatal was arrested in Nakuru on Wednesday over the murder. He was expected in court on Thursday where police were to make a miscellaneous application to hold him pending a probe.
Kanja alongside the Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin and Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo addressed a press conference Thursday and declared so far ten suspects are in custody.
They include the board member, the driver and bodyguard to Were, a driver to a parastatal official and his accomplice, four suspects directly linked to the murder and aspiring politician Philip Aroko.
One of the guns recovered from the suspects has since been confirmed to have been involved in the shooting.
Kanja stated that the gun was recovered from two suspects who were discovered with two pistols – a Retay Falcon pistol and a Sarsilmaz pistol – a bag, and footwear that matched the description of items worn by one of the suspects on the crime scene.
“The ballistics report we received unequivocally links the Sarsilmaz pistol recovered from the residence of one of the suspects to the fatal shots that took his life,” he stated.
The ballistic report also linked the weapon to three separate robbery incidents across Nairobi and Kiambu counties.
He added an autopsy performed on May 2 at the Lee Funeral Home by Chief Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor revealed that MP Were had five gunshot wounds, all of which entered his body from the left side.
Two bullets were recovered during the autopsy, and a third was found in the deceased’s vehicle, which were submitted for ballistic analysis.
Money believed to have been paid to the suspects to commit the crime was also recovered, said Kanja.
He said detectives reconstructed Were’s movements from Parliament to the site of the shooting, generating key leads that have helped identify potential suspects. “The driver and the bodyguard were taken into custody to assist in the ongoing probe.”
Kanja explained how the MP was trailed and killed revealing at approximately 7:40 PM on April 30, 2025, he was fatally shot while driving in a white Toyota Crown along Ngong Road, near the City Mortuary roundabout in Nairobi.
The vehicle had stopped at a red traffic light when a motorcycle carrying a rider and a pillion passenger pulled alongside.
The pillion passenger approached the passenger’s side of the vehicle, fired multiple shots, and fled the scene on the motorcycle.
The driver and the bodyguard, both unharmed, rushed Were to Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
A specialised team from the DCI Homicide Bureau, supported by forensic experts from the National Forensic Laboratory, was promptly deployed to the crime scene.
The team conducted a thorough examination, collecting critical evidence that has significantly advanced the investigation. Detectives reconstructed Were’s movements from Parliament to the site of the shooting, generating key leads that have helped identify potential suspects.
“Through meticulous forensic work, four suspects directly linked to the crime scene were arrested. Some of them are believed to be members of the “Mjahidini,” an organised criminal gang known for armed robberies in Nairobi’s Eastlands area.”
On May 5, 2025, the four suspects were presented before the JKIA Court, where investigators secured a 30-day custodial order to facilitate further inquiries.
The case is scheduled for mention on June 5, 2025.
The motive is believed to be political.
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