DCI Identifies Potential Suspects in Kasipul MP Ong’ondo Were’s Murder

Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were was fatally shot in Nairobi on the evening of April 30, 2025. 

Authorities are treating the incident as a targeted assassination, triggering an intensive investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). Preliminary reports indicate that Were was ambushed near the City Mortuary roundabout. Two assailants on a motorcycle approached his vehicle, and one dismounted to fire multiple shots into the passenger side. 

The driver and a second passenger, who were unharmed, transported him to Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The DCI has initiated a forensic reconstruction of Were’s movements on the day of the attack, tracing his activities from Parliament to the crime scene. This analysis has generated significant leads, enabling investigators to identify potential suspects. While the motive remains undetermined, authorities are exploring all possible angles. 

The National Police Service has appealed to the public for calm and cooperation, urging individuals with relevant information to contact them via a provided toll-free hotline. A post-mortem examination, conducted by Chief Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor, is scheduled for May 5, 2025, to determine the precise cause of death and provide further investigative insights. 

This assassination raises serious concerns about the safety of public officials, compounded by Were’s prior warnings of threats to his life. In recent weeks, the MP had publicly expressed fears of being followed and had sought protection from security agencies. 

The tragic fulfilment of these premonitions has ignited public debate about preventative measures for high-profile individuals. Elected to Parliament in 2017 and re-elected in 2022, Were represented Kasipul as a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). He served on the Departmental Committee on Blue Economy and Irrigation, and he was known for his commitment to development and advocacy.