NAIROBI, Kenya— In a major breakthrough, detectives investigating the assassination of Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were have recovered two pistols—one of which is believed to be the murder weapon—as well as critical items linking suspects to the crime.
The recovery, made in the Chokaa area of Kayole during a night raid on Tuesday, marks a turning point in a case that has gripped the nation.
A Murder Weapon and a Trail of Evidence
Police say the recovered pistols, one of them potentially used in the April 30 shooting of MP Were, will undergo ballistic analysis to confirm their connection to the crime.
The guns were found alongside a bag and shoes worn by the main suspect on the day of the assassination.
Detectives have called the findings “a breakthrough,” noting that the weapon matches bullets used in at least three other crimes across Komarock, Kayole, and Ndumberi—underscoring the reach of the weapon and, potentially, the syndicate behind it.
MP Were was gunned down in broad daylight near City Mortuary along Valley Road while in his car.
His driver and bodyguard, who both escaped unhurt, tried to save him by rushing him to Nairobi Hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries. The shooter escaped on a getaway motorcycle, and investigators believe the attack was carefully planned and executed with military-style precision.
A Web of Suspects and Suspicious Finances
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has detained four suspects—William Imoli Shighali (alias Omar Shakur), Juma Ali Haikal (a police officer), Douglas Muchiri Wambugu, and David Mihigo Kagame—pending further investigations.
Shighali was arrested at a lounge in Roysambu with Wambugu and Kagame, while Haikal’s home in Pangani revealed a cache of incriminating evidence, including police boots, ammunition, and teargas canisters.
Even more damning: Shighali was allegedly in possession of Sh615,000—suspected payment for the hit—along with police uniforms and over USD 4,800 in cash, found stashed in his Nairobi residence.
Investigators are examining the financial trail and the possibility of a well-funded criminal network behind the killing.
Court documents reveal that the suspects communicated before and after the assassination, suggesting careful coordination.
Technology, Footage, and the Hunt for More
The investigation has leaned heavily on technology, with detectives reviewing thousands of minutes of CCTV footage.
One video allegedly shows Shighali trailing the MP along Wabera Street in downtown Nairobi, carrying what appeared to be a concealed weapon in a bag. The same boots he wore in the footage were later recovered at Haikal’s home.
In a digital twist, another suspect is believed to have used a newly registered mobile line—now deactivated and under a false identity—to orchestrate the hit. Police are pursuing this individual, said to be another police officer, as the web of conspirators continues to unravel.
The suspects will remain in custody for 30 days as DCI deepens its probe, with investigators convinced the assassination was more than just a rogue act—it was a calculated mission backed by significant resources and insider coordination.
As police piece together the chilling puzzle behind MP Were’s murder, Kenyans are left grappling with questions about security, rogue officers, and how deep the conspiracy may go.
With weapons recovered, suspects behind bars, and forensic trails under scrutiny, justice for the slain MP may be inching closer—but the case has already exposed unsettling cracks in the country’s law enforcement system.
