Police in Bungoma have arrested five suspects in connection with the shooting of former Chesikaki Ward councillor and Mt Elgon parliamentary aspirant Nathan Masai Wasama, as detectives intensify investigations into the killing.
Bungoma County Police Commander Anderson Njangi says the suspects are assisting investigators establish the circumstances surrounding the killing, while three motorcycles believed to have been linked to the attack have been seized.
Njangi says police have also conducted a search at the home of Mt Elgon Member of Parliament Fred Kapondi as part of the investigations.
“We raided the Mt Elgon MP’s home. There was a search and we did not find any firearm, but we found motorbikes, crude weapons and one hand grenade,” Njangi said.
The police commander has dismissed claims made by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua concerning the alleged recovery of firearms and ammunition from Kapondi’s residence.
Njangi says the National Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have not recovered the firearms allegedly cited by Gachagua.
“As the National Police Service and the DCI, we never got such firearms that Gachagua alleged,” Njangi said.
Gachagua had on Wednesday claimed that security officers had searched Kapondi’s residence and recovered 18 firearms and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition.
“In Mount Elgon, they had killed someone there (Wasama) who wanted the parliamentary seat. When I announced it, the pressure became intense; last night they went to the area MP Fred Kapondi’s place and found 18 guns and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition,” Gachagua said.
The allegations have since triggered a political and public debate, with Mt Elgon MP Fred Kapondi strongly denying any involvement in Wasama’s death and challenging Gachagua to substantiate his claims.
“My conscience is clear. I have never been in the business of killing political opponents. It has never happened in my entire political career, and the late Wasama was never an opponent,” Kapondi said.
Kapondi has also threatened legal action against Gachagua, accusing the former Deputy President of making serious allegations without evidence.
“I will sue him because he is not above the law,” Kapondi said, demanding that Gachagua explain the whereabouts of the firearms he alleged were recovered from his residence.
Kapondi maintains that he had no motive to harm Wasama, who was also interested in contesting the Mt Elgon parliamentary seat in the 2027 General Election.
Wasama, aged 61, was shot at his shop in Tuikut Trading Centre, Cheptais Sub-County, on the night of August 8.
Preliminary investigations indicate that four men arrived at the trading centre on two motorcycles before one of them entered Wasama’s shop and shot him. A woman was also injured during the incident.
The killing has renewed concerns over security in Mt Elgon, a region with a history of politically linked violence.
Leaders and residents have called for a thorough investigation and the prosecution of anyone found culpable.
Police say the five suspects will remain a key part of the ongoing investigations as detectives work to establish the motive behind Nathan Wasama’s killing and determine whether there were other people involved.
Njangi has urged the public to allow investigators to complete their work, saying the arrest of the suspects and recovery of material believed to be connected to the incident will assist detectives in piecing together what happened.
The investigation comes amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 General Election, with Wasama having expressed interest in seeking the Mt Elgon parliamentary seat.
Police have maintained that the investigation will be guided by evidence as they seek to bring those responsible for the killing to justice.
