Three people have been arrested in connection with the killing of 61-year-old businessman and Mt Elgon parliamentary aspirant Nathan Masai Wasama in Bungoma County.
The arrests were announced by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Wednesday, August 12, following several days of investigations into the shooting that happened on Thursday, August 6, at Tuikut in Cheptais, Mt Elgon Constituency.
Wasama was shot at his shop after four men reportedly arrived at Tuikut Trading Centre on a motorcycle.
According to preliminary findings, one of the men got off the motorcycle and walked into the shop, where he shot Wasama before leaving with the others.
“Detectives investigating the fatal shooting of 61-year-old businessman Nathan Masai Wasama in Cheptais, Bungoma County, have arrested three suspects as the dragnet tightens around those behind the killing,” DCI stated in a statement.
“Preliminary investigations established that one of the pillion passengers alighted, walked into Wasama’s shop and shot him before fleeing with his accomplices,” the authority added.
The arrests followed intelligence-led investigations by detectives seeking to establish what happened before, during and after the shooting.
Police also recovered several items during the operation, which they believe could be connected to the suspects or the activities being investigated.
Among the items recovered were a military-style smoke jacket, a stun grenade, three axes, a crowbar, three folding pangas, two pangas, two knives and five arrows.
Detectives also recovered three motorcycles, two mobile phones and an iPod.
The recovery of the items is expected to form part of the evidence being examined as investigators continue to build their case.
Detectives are also looking into the movements of the suspects and their possible links to the shooting.Police have not yet arrested the fourth person believed to have been involved in the killing.
The search for the suspect remains ongoing as investigators follow more leads.
The DCI said the investigation is also aimed at establishing the motive behind Wasama’s killing and identifying everyone who may have played a role.
Detectives are expected to examine the evidence recovered during the operation as they work to piece together the events surrounding the incident.
Wasama’s death came only a few weeks after he publicly announced his intention to seek the Mt Elgon parliamentary seat in the 2027 General Election.
His decision to enter politics had placed him in the public eye, although he was already known in the area for his business activities and involvement in community work.
Apart from being a businessman, Wasama was described as a philanthropist who supported activities within his community.
He was also an active member of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church and took part in various church and community activities.
His death has also brought attention to the fact that he had previously survived an attack. In 2024, Wasama was reportedly targeted by gunmen in the Kapcheshari area of Bungoma County.
He survived that incident, which happened about two years before his latest attack.
The latest investigation will now focus on determining whether the earlier attack had any connection to his death or whether the two incidents were unrelated.
With three suspects already in custody, detectives are expected to continue questioning them and examining the recovered items.
The search for the fourth suspect is also likely to remain a key part of the investigation as police seek a clearer picture of what led to Wasama’s killing.
For residents of Tuikut and the wider Mt Elgon area, the arrests mark an important development in the search for answers following the shooting.
The investigation is still ongoing, and authorities are expected to provide more information as they establish the circumstances surrounding the death and the roles allegedly played by those arrested.
