Police Link Nairobi Gang To MP Charles Were Murder

The National Police Service (NPS) has linked the murder of Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Were to a criminal gang believed to be responsible for a string of armed robberies in Nairobi's Eastlands area.

In a statement released on Sunday, April 4 — three days after the fatal shooting of Were in the Kenyan capital— the NPS announced that four individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident.

"The National Police Service (NPS) would like to apprise the public of the progress made in the investigation following the tragic shooting of Hon. Charles Were, as follows," stated NPS in part.

"Upon further analysis of previously obtained leads, officers from the National Police Service swiftly conducted an operation and successfully arrested four suspects who had been positively placed at the crime scene. Investigators have also recovered crucial evidence linked to the crime, as well as to the perpetrators."

Photo of Outering Road in Nairobi. /MWAKILISHI.COM

NPS went on to disclose that some of the suspects arrested are members of organised criminal gangs, such as "Mjahidin”, which has been linked to armed robberies in the Eastlands area of Nairobi.

According to the police, the gang in question had long been under surveillance for its involvement in a series of violent crimes in the densely populated area of the city.

At the time of MP Were’s assassination, he was accompanied by his bodyguard and driver, both of whom were left unharmed by the assailants, who attacked while riding a motorcycle. These circumstances have led investigators to suspect that the killing was targeted and premeditated.

Following his death, various theories have circulated regarding the motive behind the attack, particularly after revelations surfaced that MP Were had hinted at threats to his life just two months prior.

In a Sunday update, the NPS urged individuals not directly involved in the investigation to refrain from speculation, emphasising the importance of allowing investigators to conduct a thorough and unbiased inquiry.

"NPS investigators and the technical team are working tirelessly, leveraging their expertise, to establish the motive behind the fatal shooting and to bring all those involved to justice.

"As a service, we urge the public to remain calm and refrain from speculating, as our teams work diligently to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation. Moreover, the NPS advises individuals not directly involved in this investigation to refrain from making comments that could hinder ongoing efforts," added NPS.

The NPS's statements appear to confirm that the murder was a calculated one, but questions still linger on the manner of assassination of the MP, with previous accounts suggesting that the murder was conducted by a professional assassin.

Earlier, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced on Sunday, May 4, that detectives had arrested a suspect connected to the fatal shooting of MP Were. Investigators also recovered a vehicle believed to have been used by the suspect and his accomplices to flee the scene after the attack.

Security cameras had picked up the car along several key roads—including near Parliament Building, City Hall Way, Wabera Street, Kenyatta Avenue, Jakaya Kikwete Road, Argwings Kodhek Road, and Valley Road—the same route the slain MP had taken before he was killed.

The suspect in custody was tracked along these same routes and is now expected to assist with the ongoing investigation.

An accomplice to the shooting, who is still at large, is also being pursued by the DCI detectives, who are also pursuing those who rode the sports motorcycle to the same location where Were was murdered.