Mulembe Times – May 8, 2025
Detectives probe senior government official in connection to Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were’s murder as new evidence reveals KSh 850K payment to suspects.
New Details Show Suspects Received KSh 850k Deposit, Bodyguard Paid KSh 80k for Fare
Fresh and alarming details have emerged linking a senior government official to the brutal murder of Kasipul Member of Parliament, Charles Ong’ondo Were, who was gunned down on April 30, 2025, in Nairobi. According to investigative sources close to the case, detectives have turned their attention to a high-ranking public servant suspected of having direct ties to one of the suspects arrested in Nakuru in connection to the assassination.
The development follows a breakthrough in the investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), who recently arrested two suspects believed to have been part of the hit squad that executed the MP. In a chilling confession, one of the arrested individuals claimed that the assassins were paid a deposit of KSh 850,000, part of a larger deal to eliminate the legislator. Investigators are now working to determine the origin of this payment and who authorized the funds.
One suspect reportedly admitted that the amount was only a portion of what was promised, and that the payment was facilitated through a chain of intermediaries. One of those intermediaries, police believe, is closely associated with a senior official in government, whose identity is currently being withheld to avoid jeopardizing ongoing inquiries.
This revelation adds a new and disturbing layer to the case, which has already rocked Kenya’s political establishment. Charles Were was not only a sitting Member of Parliament but a vocal critic of political violence and alleged state-sponsored intimidation in his constituency. Just days before his death, Were had appeared in a video alleging that he was being targeted by political rivals and influential figures seeking to destabilize his leadership in Kasipul.
“Some individuals want me out of the way. They’re using violence, intimidation, and threats against my team. I’ve reported these matters, but nothing has been done,” Were said in the video, which has since gone viral online.
His concerns were echoed by close allies, who confirmed that Were had received multiple death threats and that his security detail had reported suspicious surveillance on several occasions in the weeks leading up to his murder.
The DCI’s early findings suggest that the assassination was highly coordinated. CCTV footage retrieved from various locations in Nairobi shows the MP being trailed from Parliament to a location near Kilimani, where he was ambushed and fatally shot by a masked gunman riding a motorbike. Forensic analysis of the scene confirmed the use of a high-caliber weapon and professional execution tactics, indicating the involvement of well-trained individuals.
The funeral for the slain MP is scheduled for Friday, May 9, 2025, at his rural home in Homa Bay County. His burial will be conducted in accordance with his last wishes, including the symbolic draping of his casket in ODM party colors—an act his family and party allies say is not political, but personal.
ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna stated, “Charles was a loyal servant of the people and a committed member of the party. The decision to drape his coffin in orange is to honor his wishes and his lifelong dedication to the ideals of democracy.”
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on investigative agencies to deliver justice. Human rights groups and fellow lawmakers have demanded that no stone be left unturned, even if the trail leads to the highest levels of government.
As the probe deepens, Kenyans are watching closely—many hoping that the case will set a precedent against political assassinations and impunity.
Stay with Mulembe Times for ongoing coverage of this developing story.
