Detectives’ headache over the Kilimani man’s murder weapon

Detectives investigating the killing of Kevin Omwenga will today (Wednesday) receive ballistic examination reports on three guns linked to Mr Chris Obure, one of the prime suspects.

A flamboyant man who has on numerous occasions found himself on the wrong side of the law over misuse of firearms, Mr Obure has been in custody since Wednesday last week alongside his bodyguard Robert Ouko.

While it is almost concluded that Mr Ouko – the man who is suspected to have pulled the trigger – will face murder charges, police have not determined what to charge Mr Obure with.

Among the issues yet to be solved is how he got back his Ceska pistol, initially thought to be the murder weapon. The firearm was found at Mr Obure’s office at Santeu Plaza on the night of the shooting.

Surrendered firearm

Mr Obure had surrendered the firearm in 2017 after drama at a nightclub before it was handed over to the Firearms Registration Bureau early last year.

Last week, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) wrote to the bureau seeking to find out who gave the gun back to Mr Obure.

Police are also trying to establish whether two more firearms that were found at Mr Obure’s office – a pistol and a shotgun – are licensed.  During initial questioning, Mr Obure told police that his Ceska pistol had been stolen by Mr Ouko. But Mr Ouko claimed the gun fired accidentally as he was handing it to Mr Omwenga, “who had asked for it to show off to some of his friends”.

On Tuesday, Mr Omwenga’s brother, Wycliffe, who was at House Number 703 on Galana Suites on the night of the shooting, told the Nation that police have not informed the family of progress in the investigations.

“We are sad, having come back from burying our brother,” he said. 

“They haven’t told us anything or what they have found out so we will wait,” he said, but declined to share clues on the circumstances surrounding the killing.

Sudden change of fortunes

One of the theories detectives are pursuing is based on Mr Omwenga’s sudden change of fortunes in the months leading to the death and the people he associated with.

Detectives are trying to establish if the killing had to do with his reported involvement in fake gold business.

Part of the answer to this puzzle will come from an analysis of information retrieved from Mr Omwenga’s gadgets and his suspected killers.

By Tuesday, the results of a forensic analysis of the phones by the DCI had not been released.

The audit will reveal the nature of communication that Mr Omwenga had with the key suspects days to the shooting. It will also show if Mr Ouko and Mr Obure had any communication before and after the shooting.

It was also not clear if DNA samples had been taken from the two, who are being held at different police stations. Mr Ouko is at Kilimani Police Station while Mr Obure at Kileleshwa. While asking the court to allow police to hold them last week, investigating officer Bashir Boya said statements from key witnesses had not been recorded.

“Their continued detention is necessary for the finalising of the investigation. Their release could lead to interference with investigations,” Mr Boya said.