Nathan Wasama Shot Dead: Mt Elgon MP Aspirant Killed in Suspected Assassination
Shock and grief have engulfed Bungoma County following reports that Nathan Wasama Masai, a former Chesikaki councillor and declared 2027 Mt Elgon parliamentary aspirant, was shot dead at his home in Tuikut village, Cheptais, on the night of August 6. Unknown assailants reportedly stormed his compound and opened fire before fleeing the scene. No arrests had been announced at the time of publication, and detectives are said to be working to establish a motive.
Quick Facts: Who Was Nathan Wasama?
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Nathan Wasama Masai |
| Political role | Former Chesikaki councillor; 2027 Mt Elgon MP aspirant |
| Incident date | Night of August 6 |
| Location | Tuikut village, Cheptais, Bungoma County |
| Cause of death | Reported shooting by unidentified gunmen |
| Prior attempt | Reported ambush and shooting at his vehicle in Kapcheshari, 2024 (survived) |
| Other roles | Businessman, philanthropist, Seventh-day Adventist Church member |
| Investigation status | Ongoing; no suspects named |
How the Shooting Reportedly Unfolded
According to accounts from the Cheptais area, gunmen stormed Wasama’s home in Tuikut village late on August 6 and opened fire before escaping. The attack came just weeks after Wasama publicly declared his intention to contest the Mt Elgon parliamentary seat in the 2027 General Election, a timeline that has fueled speculation — though not confirmation — of a political motive.
It also follows an earlier, non-fatal attack: in 2024, gunmen reportedly ambushed and shot at Wasama’s vehicle in Kapcheshari. He escaped that incident unharmed. If both incidents are accurately reported, they suggest a sustained pattern of targeting rather than a single random event a distinction investigators will need to confirm.
Who Was Nathan Wasama Beyond Politics?
Outside his political ambitions, Wasama was known locally as a businessman and philanthropist, with a reputation for backing community development projects across Mt Elgon. He was also a committed member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. His earlier career included a term as a councillor for Sasuri ward in the former Mt Elgon County Council.
Political Reaction to Wasama’s Death
Leaders across the political divide have condemned the killing. Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to move swiftly and ensure those responsible are identified and brought to justice. Further statements from Bungoma County leadership and national figures are expected as the investigation develops.
Why Mt Elgon Is No Stranger to Political Violence
Whatever the final findings on Wasama’s case, they arrive in a region with a documented and often violent political history:
The Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF) Insurgency (2006–2008)
Mt Elgon was the site of one of Kenya’s most serious internal conflicts of the 2000s, driven by disputes over the Chepyuk settlement scheme. Human Rights Watch documented that SLDF leaders and members were widely known within the community, with activists, chiefs, journalists, and civil servants naming figures including Wycliffe Matakwei, John Sichei Chemaimak, John Kanai, and local politicians and councillors as central to the militia. Deputy SLDF leader Wycliffe Matakwei was reportedly killed by police in May 2008 during the military’s crackdown, known as Operation Okoa Maisha, an operation rights groups also accused of committing serious abuses.
1990s State-Linked Clashes
Mt Elgon also experienced an earlier wave of politically instigated violence. Human Rights Watch reported that a former area MP was widely cited as one of the proponents of violence in the district and was implicated in the state-sponsored clashes of 1991–93, later named in the Akiwumi Commission’s parliamentary inquiry into political violence of that decade.
Ongoing Land Disputes
Much of the region’s instability traces back to unresolved land questions tied to the Chepyuk settlement scheme disputes that have periodically resurfaced as banditry and localized clashes well after the SLDF’s formal defeat.
A Wider Pattern: Political Violence in Bungoma and Western Kenya
Wasama’s reported killing lands inside a broader and troubling trend across Bungoma County and Kenyan politics more generally:
- Fred Kapondi assault allegations (2025): Incumbent Mt Elgon MP Fred Kapondi was accused by 2027 rival Patrick Chemosit of orchestrating an assault after Kapondi’s entourage allegedly blocked Chemosit’s vehicle following a burial, with Chemosit sustaining head injuries and claiming Kapondi drew a pistol and ordered armed supporters to attack him. Kapondi was summoned by police.
- Didmus Barasa murder case (2022–2023): The same MP who condemned Wasama’s death was himself charged over the 2022 shooting death of a rival aspirant’s aide, after ballistic forensics reportedly linked the fatal shot to his issued firearm; he was later acquitted following a ten-month trial.
- Charles Ong’ondo Were assassination (2025): The sitting Kasipul MP was shot dead in a premeditated, motorcycle-borne attack near Nairobi’s City Mortuary roundabout in April 2025, a case that shocked the nation and underscored that political assassinations are increasingly a national, not just regional, concern.
- Bungoma’s broader security decline (2026): Local reporting has flagged an escalating pattern of unsolved violent crime across Bungoma County, including the killing of a municipal public health officer outside his home in May 2026, prompting local MPs to demand a security committee overhaul.
What Happens Next: DCI Investigation and Community Response
The DCI is under pressure to move quickly on Wasama’s case pressure familiar to Mt Elgon, a district with a long history of unresolved political violence. Key questions investigators are expected to address include:
- Whether the August 6 shooting is connected to the 2024 Kapcheshari ambush
- Whether the attack is linked to Wasama’s declared 2027 candidacy
- Whether any suspects can be identified from the Tuikut village crime scene
- Whether the case connects to broader security deterioration reported elsewhere in Bungoma County
As of publication, no arrests have been made, and police have not confirmed a motive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Nathan Wasama? Nathan Wasama Masai was a former Chesikaki councillor, businessman, philanthropist, and declared aspirant for the Mt Elgon parliamentary seat in Kenya’s 2027 General Election.
When and where was Nathan Wasama shot? He was reportedly shot at his home in Tuikut village, Cheptais, Bungoma County, on the night of August 6.
Was this the first attempt on Wasama’s life? According to reports, gunmen had previously ambushed and shot at his vehicle in Kapcheshari in 2024. He survived that attack uninjured.
Has anyone been arrested for Wasama’s killing? No arrests had been announced at the time of publication. Investigations by the DCI are ongoing.
Is Mt Elgon prone to political violence? Yes. The region has a documented history of political violence, including the 2006–2008 SLDF insurgency, 1990s state-linked ethnic clashes, and recurring land-dispute-related unrest.
