Inside the chilling murder plot against MP Ong’ondo Were

By Newsflash Team

On Wednesday afternoon, two men sat calmly in a restaurant along Nairobi’s Kimathi Street, having lunch while intently tracking the proceedings of Parliament.

Their focus, like that of many others across the country, was on National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.

For most Kenyans, the interest was in whether the controversial Finance Bill 2025 would be introduced. But for the two men in the restaurant — now identified by detectives as prime suspects in the killing of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were — Speaker Wetang’ula’s closure of the day’s session signaled something far more sinister: the green light to execute a meticulously planned assassination.

According to preliminary findings by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the attack on the MP later that evening was the culmination of days of tracking and surveillance. Investigators believe the assailants had closely monitored Mr Were’s movements, knew the specific car he was using that day — a white Toyota Crown he had recently acquired — and even knew his preferred seat inside the vehicle.

Police sources revealed that the MP had recently sold a car he was publicly associated with, possibly in an attempt to remain inconspicuous. However, the killers still managed to identify and track his new vehicle. They are suspected to have conducted several reconnaissance missions around the places the MP frequented.

CCTV footage collected from various city locations has helped law enforcement trace the movements of the two men before and after the assassination. Investigators are analyzing surveillance footage from the restaurant where the suspects were seen dining.

One of the men is said to have carried a small bag, possibly containing the weapon used in the killing. According to DCI Communications Director John Marete, the footage and other leads have been instrumental in narrowing down the list of suspects. While the motive remains under investigation, Marete confirmed the killing was targeted and premeditated.

The final trail begins

When Mr Were exited Parliament around 7:15 p.m., the assailants — long done with their meal — were waiting in the shadows. They followed the MP, who was riding in the front passenger seat, a departure from standard VIP protocol where principals typically sit in the back left seat. His bodyguard was seated behind him.

The attackers were riding a high-powered motorcycle, and police are reviewing camera footage to identify its make, model, and license plate.

As Mr Were’s vehicle drove through the city, it passed City Hall and made a brief stop on Wabera Street. During that stop, the bodyguard got out and entered an M-Pesa shop to deposit Sh20,000 into the MP’s account. The shop attendant has since provided a statement and CCTV evidence to investigators. After the deposit, the bodyguard returned to the vehicle, and they continued their journey, unaware they were being trailed.

A forensic officer examines the interior of the vehicle in which Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were was fatally shot, at Nairobi Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, on April 30, 2025 [AFP].

CCTV footage shows the vehicle joining Kenyatta Avenue at about 7:19 p.m. Minutes later, at the Nairobi Funeral Home (City Mortuary) roundabout — a location ironically infamous as the site where Kabete MP George Muchai was assassinated a decade ago — the assassins found their perfect opportunity.

A swift and fatal ambush

With traffic slowing them down, one of the gunmen dismounted the motorcycle, approached the vehicle, and opened fire at close range, shattering the window next to the MP and hitting him multiple times in the hand and chest. The shooter was masked, and the ambush lasted less than a minute.

As the gunman fled back to the waiting motorcycle, the getaway driver swiftly maneuvered through traffic and sped off toward the city center. The MP’s bodyguard, caught off guard by the sudden attack, initially ducked for cover before attempting to pursue the killers on foot. He quickly realized the futility of the chase and returned to the car, where Mr Were lay bleeding and pleading for help.

The team rushed the injured MP to Nairobi Hospital, which was only a short distance away. Sadly, doctors pronounced him dead upon arrival.

The bodyguard and driver were unharmed in the ambush. Eyewitnesses described the entire incident as swift and professionally executed.

On Thursday morning, homicide detectives visited the scene to reconstruct the sequence of events. They recovered three spent cartridges, which are undergoing ballistic analysis. Investigators also returned to Wabera Street, where the MP was last seen alive, to search for more clues.

The investigation has since extended to Kasipul Constituency, where Mr Were reportedly had several political and personal rivalries. Authorities are now exploring whether the killing may have been politically motivated.

Although MPs are assigned at least one bodyguard, many choose not to move with their full security detail. They can select their personal security staff and may request additional protection based on perceived threats. Senior parliamentary leaders typically receive more comprehensive security arrangements, including vehicles with official number plates.

The route taken by Mr Were’s vehicle suggests that his driver attempted to avoid a traffic jam on Valley Road by turning onto Jakaya Kikwete Road and later connecting to Argwings Kodhek Road. By 7:40 p.m., they had reached the roundabout near the Nairobi Funeral Home, where the assassins made their move.

The investigation continues, with detectives combing through more CCTV footage, phone records, and witness statements to uncover the full scope of the chilling murder plot.