Kasipul MP Shot Five Times in Nairobi Attack, Postmortem Confirms

The assassination of Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were is under intense scrutiny as law enforcement officials delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding his death. 

A postmortem examination has revealed that Were sustained five gunshot wounds, with three bullets still lodged in his body, according to Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor. In a significant development, four suspects—William Imoli Shighali, Juma Ali Haikai, Douglas Muchiri Wambugu, and David Mihigo Kagame—have been arraigned in court. Police successfully requested and were granted a 30-day detention order to facilitate further investigations. The suspects are currently being held at separate police stations across Nairobi, including Ruaraka, Muthaiga, Capitol Hill, and Kilimani, to prevent collusion and streamline the investigation process.

Court documents reveal that investigators are tracing the movements of a motorcycle allegedly used by the assailants. The attackers reportedly shadowed Were from Parliament Buildings, following him along Wabera Street before ambushing him near the Nairobi Funeral Home roundabout. It was there that he was fatally shot. A search of suspect Shighali’s residence in Umoja II estate yielded critical evidence. Police seized $4,800 (approximately Sh620,000), suspected to be proceeds of crime, along with a spent cartridge and other exhibits relevant to the investigation. 

Investigators were also led to Haikai’s residence, where they impounded a vehicle believed to have been used to transport the attackers to Parliament before they switched to a motorcycle to track Were’s movements. A subsequent search of Haikai’s home uncovered a substantial cache of items, including nine bullets, eight teargas canisters, and Administration Police uniforms. This discovery has raised concerns that Haikai may be a rogue officer, prompting further investigation into whether elements within the security forces were involved in the assassination plot. 

Moreover, a pair of shoes seized from Haikai’s residence reportedly matched footwear captured on CCTV footage worn by the suspected shooter. Authorities have yet to locate the firearm used in the murder, a critical piece of evidence that remains outstanding. The postmortem examination, conducted in the presence of Were’s family members, confirmed the severity of the attack. 

Dr. Oduor explains that Were sustained two gunshots to his left forearm—one bullet exited, while the other remained embedded, suggesting he may have been either shielding himself or holding a phone when he was ambushed. Two more bullets struck the left side of his chest, with one piercing through his body while the other became lodged in his spine after passing through vital organs.

“The trajectory of that bullet cut through the heart, lungs, liver, and aorta,” Dr. Oduor stated, emphasizing the lethal nature of the injuries. A final shot entered through his upper back, adding to the catastrophic damage inflicted.

Forensic specialists are expected to conduct further ballistic examinations on the recovered bullets, which could provide crucial evidence linking the suspects to the murder. Dr. Oduor has confirmed that there were no signs of additional physical trauma, ruling out any other form of assault apart from the gunshots. Eyewitness accounts largely corroborate forensic findings. Observers reported that Were’s vehicle was intercepted near the Nairobi Funeral Home roundabout by two men riding a motorcycle. 

One of them fired multiple rounds through the car window at point-blank range, ensuring a fatal outcome. Although Were’s driver and bodyguard rushed him to Nairobi Hospital, he was pronounced dead upon arrival. The assassination has triggered widespread condemnation across the political spectrum. Opposition leader Raila Odinga has called for an impartial and swift investigation, underscoring concerns about rising insecurity among political figures. President William Ruto has also condemned the killing, urging calm and assuring the public that justice will be served.

Were had previously expressed fears over his safety, alleging political threats and sabotage efforts targeting him. These concerns, once dismissed by some, now appear chillingly prescient in light of his tragic demise.