By Valentine Omondi
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that the killing of Mt Elgon politician Nathan Masai Wasama was politically instigated.
Gachagua has demanded the immediate arrest of the key plotters behind the killing of Masai.
“Intelligence reports say Masai was killed for political reasons and that he had become so popular and was a threat to the political quo,” he said.
The detectives investigating the fatal shooting of businessman and former local politician Nathan Masai Wasama have arrested three suspects as efforts to unravel the circumstances surrounding his killing intensify.
Wasama, 61, was shot dead on the night of August 8, 2026, at his shop in Tuikut Trading Centre, Sasur Location, Cheptais Sub-County, according to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The latest arrests were announced by the DCI on Wednesday, August 12, as detectives continued pursuing leads to establish the motive for the killing and identify all those involved.
Surrender
On Wednesday, two more suspects wanted in connection with the murder of Masai surrendered to the police.
Robert Kimutai Psisei, alias Robert Miti, surrendered at Cheptais Police Station. He was arrested, escorted, and booked at Sirisia Police Station.
Another suspect, Brian Chongin Kaos, surrendered at Chwele Police Station, where he was taken into custody.
The two suspects are among those in custody as detectives continue with investigations, with all suspects expected to be arraigned in court to face the law once investigations are complete.
How the shooting unfolded
Preliminary investigations indicate that four men arrived at the trading centre on two motorcycles before one of the pillion passengers alighted and walked into Wasama’s shop.
The suspect allegedly shot Wasama before fleeing the scene with the accomplices on the motorcycles.
A woman was also shot and injured during the incident. She was rushed to a local hospital, where she remains admitted in stable condition.
The killing has since triggered an intensive investigation, with detectives following leads believed to be helping them piece together the events before and after the shooting.
The first breakthrough came when detectives arrested Oscar Koech Sakong, who is among those suspected of being linked to the killing.
More arrests and weapons recovered
The investigation widened on August 11 when detectives, acting on a search warrant, raided a residence in Marigo Village, Cheptais Location.
The operation led to the arrest of two more suspects, identified as Wycliffe Chesubei Ngeiwa, alias Chota, and Geoffrey Makwere Masai.
Detectives also recovered several items during the operation, including a military-style smoke jacket, a stun grenade, three axes, a crowbar, three folding pangas, two pangas, two knives, and five arrows.
Three motorcycles, two mobile phones, and an iPod were also recovered.
The three suspects are currently in custody as detectives process them for arraignment and seek custodial orders to allow investigations to continue.
The arrests, however, have not brought the investigation to an end. Detectives are still pursuing additional suspects and working to establish the motive behind Wasama’s killing.
The DCI has cautioned members of the public against spreading unverified allegations that could prejudice the case, interfere with investigations, or threaten public safety.
Police have also appealed to anyone with credible information that could help identify or apprehend the remaining suspects to report to the authorities.
For investigators, the focus now shifts to connecting the suspects to the August 8 shooting, determining why Wasama was targeted, and establishing whether the items recovered during the operation were connected to the crime.
As the probe continues, the arrests provide detectives with their first major breakthrough in a killing that left a businessman and former local politician dead and another person nursing gunshot injuries.
