NAIROBI — Police have arrested a key suspect in the killing of Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were, days after the legislator was shot dead in Nairobi.
The suspect was picked up after detectives traced his movements using forensic analysis and CCTV footage from the route Were took on the night of his death.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the man was captured following the MP’s car from Parliament to Valley Road, where the fatal shooting occurred last Wednesday evening.
“We have footage showing the suspect’s vehicle trailing the MP’s car,” a senior detective involved in the case told The Standard, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the investigation. “The same car was seen near Parliament Buildings and again close to the scene of the shooting.”
Authorities also recovered the car believed to have been used in the attack. It is now being examined for further clues.
Detectives are pursuing other suspects, as well as a missing motorcycle and firearm believed to have been used in the assassination.
The arrest has stirred cautious hope among leaders and citizens in Homa Bay, where Were served as a two-term MP under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.
Peter Kaluma, MP for Homa Bay Town, welcomed the arrest but urged transparency and regular updates.
“I’m encouraged by the commitment shown by the National Police Service and the DCI,” Kaluma said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “They must keep the country informed as they get to the bottom of this horrific killing.”
Were, 45, was described by colleagues as a focused and rising political voice in Parliament. His killing shocked the nation and triggered widespread calls for justice and better security for public officials.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear. Authorities have not confirmed whether the killing was politically motivated, personal, or linked to other interests.
As investigators tighten their net, Kenyans await answers—not just about who pulled the trigger, but why.
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