Questions continue to swirl around the assassination of Kasipul Member of Parliament (MP) Charles Ong’ondo Were, who was gunned down in Nairobi in what Police described as a carefully executed hit.
According to close aides, the legislator had long been a “marked man”, having previously expressed fears for his life numerous times—concerns that now form part of the growing scrutiny over the circumstances of his death.
Following the launch of the probe into the late MP Were’s murder by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), The Kenya Times explores questions that have emerged in the aftermath of this brazen killing.
Why Kasipul MP was using his son’s car instead of his official vehicle?
On the day he was shot, the late MP made an unexpected and uncharacteristic change to his travel routine.
The late Kasipul legislator left his official car parked at his home, instead choosing to use his son’s Toyota Crown saloon car to Parliament.
His official vehicle remained parked home where he never returned after meeting his tragic death on his way back.
Ong’ondo Were’s abrupt shift in travel plans suggested he was acutely aware of the danger he faced and was actively trying to evade those who may have been tracking him.
Also Read: Kasipul MP Murder: DCI Pursue Crucial Leads, Narrow Down to Potential Suspects
Why didn’t the bodyguard react and how did he and the driver remain unharmed?
CCTV footage reviewed by investigators shows the MP’s vehicle navigating through the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) after leaving Parliament on the evening of Wednesday, April 30. He was in the company of his driver and bodyguard.
The footage captures a brief stop on Wabera Street, where the bodyguard exited the vehicle and entered a nearby M-Pesa outlet to deposit Ksh20,000 into the MP’s account.
During this pause, a hooded individual with a backpack was spotted loitering near the car, apparently surveilling its occupants.
The vehicle was later seen on Kenyatta Avenue before joining Valley Road. Unbeknownst to its occupants, a motorbike carrying two men—one of whom was armed- was trailing them.
At around 7:40 p.m., as the car stopped at a red light near the City Mortuary roundabout, the assailant jumped off the motorbike and fired four rounds into the passenger side, fatally striking the MP in the chest and hand.
The attacker then fled on the motorbike, vanishing into traffic.
The bodyguard reportedly ducked during the gunfire and later attempted to pursue the fleeing attackers on foot—unsuccessfully.
He then helped rush the Kasipul legislator to Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Both the bodyguard and driver escaped unharmed.
Why did DCI allegedly ignore the death threats reported?
The MP’s family has accused the government and investigative authorities of negligence.
During a press briefing in Kachien, Homa Bay County, the family claimed that the late MP Were had reported receiving multiple death threats—but that these warnings were never taken seriously.
“He went to DCI headquarters and recorded a statement. Still, no help came,” a family spokesperson stated.
“His life was in danger, and it was known. Why wasn’t action taken?”
Was the crime scene properly handled?
Prominent lawyer and political commentator Miguna Miguna has condemned the DCI’s handling of the crime scene, calling it “grossly unprofessional.”
“The DCI’s complete ineptness is legendary,” Miguna wrote on social media. “They entered the vehicle with potential suspects and ransacked it before driving it away. I couldn’t believe my eyes.”
Also Read: CCTV Footage & M-PESA Deposit: Fresh Details Emerge on Events Before Murder of Kasipul MP
He argued that the car should have been secured and towed by a forensic team, not driven by unqualified officers—suggesting such actions may have compromised crucial evidence.
East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Winnie Odinga echoed these sentiments during a visit to the scene. “Why are there passengers in the crime scene vehicle? What kind of investigation is this?” she questioned.
Who wanted him dead—and why?
In February, just months before his assassination, Were told the media that his life was under threat. He cited increased political tension and violent disruptions during his events, claiming the chaos was being instigated by actors outside Kasipul.
He recalled a funeral in God Nyango where the road was allegedly deliberately blocked to prevent his departure, forcing him and his security team to find alternative routes.
Ong’ondo Were said he attended another funeral the following day in Nyatindo.
While addressing the press at Oyugis Police Station, he remarked, “Immediately I arrived, before even praying, one of the notorious criminals… stated that I would not talk there. The villagers were angered. What happened in the process is with investigative agencies.”
In another undated video circulating on social media, the slain MP was heard saying people were plotting an attack against him.
Despite these public warnings, little was done to enhance his security—leaving a trail of questions as to who may have orchestrated the assassination and what motives lay behind it.
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