Published on: May 08, 2025 09:27 (EAT)
Kenya police recover the gun used to assassinate Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were, linking it to suspects tied to Nairobi robberies. Ten individuals, including gang members, are in custody as the probe deepens.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja during a past press address. PHOTO | COURTESY | NPS
In a significant breakthrough in the ongoing investigation into the brutal assassination of Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were, police have recovered the firearm used in the killing, linking it directly to suspects already in custody.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, speaking to the media on Thursday, confirmed that ballistic analysis had positively identified a pistol found during recent arrests as the murder weapon. “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,” said IG Kanja.
The weapon was recovered from two suspects arrested earlier in the week. Alongside the Sarsilmaz pistol, detectives also confiscated a Retay Falcon pistol, a bag, and footwear believed to match items worn by one of the suspects on the night of the murder.
MP Were was killed on April 30 in what has been described by investigators as a “highly coordinated assassination.” According to an autopsy conducted on May 2 at Lee Funeral Home by Chief Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor, the late legislator suffered five gunshot wounds, all entering from his left side. Two bullets were extracted from his body during the autopsy, while a third was discovered lodged in his vehicle. All were submitted for forensic analysis, leading to the identification of the murder weapon.
The pistol used in the shooting has also been linked to at least three other armed robbery incidents reported across Nairobi and Kiambu counties. This revelation has intensified speculation that the assassination may be connected to organized criminal gangs operating in the capital and its outskirts.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has since made multiple arrests. Edwin Oduor Odhiambo, also known as Abdul Rashid, and Dennis Sewe Munyasi were taken into custody on Wednesday. Investigators say the two led detectives to Odhiambo’s residence, where the crucial firearms were retrieved.
Further investigations led to the arrest of four other individuals on May 4, all of whom have been linked to the crime scene. Police suspect they are members of the notorious ‘Mjahidini’ gang, known for orchestrating violent robberies in Nairobi’s Eastlands area. The suspects were arraigned at the JKIA Court and are currently being held under a 30-day custodial order as investigations continue. Their case is scheduled for mention on June 5.
Two additional key suspects were also arrested on Wednesday, raising the number of individuals in custody to ten.
In a related development, prominent Homa Bay politician and businessman Philip Nahashon Aroko was summoned by the DCI for questioning. Addressing the press at the DCI headquarters, Aroko denied any involvement in MP Were’s killing. His lawyer, Danstan Omari, confirmed that Aroko presented himself at the Gigiri Police Station and spent the night in custody pending further interrogation.
Meanwhile, detectives are working to piece together MP Were’s final movements on the day of his death. Investigators have reconstructed his journey from Parliament to the scene of the shooting, uncovering what they term as “critical leads.” As part of this probe, the slain MP’s driver and personal aide have been detained to assist with the investigation.
The murder of MP Were has sparked widespread outrage and calls for swift justice. Leaders from across the political divide have urged security agencies to leave no stone unturned in ensuring all those involved in the killing are brought to book.
As the country awaits further developments, the recovery of the murder weapon marks a major step forward in unraveling the plot behind the shocking assassination of a sitting legislator.
