Kenyan Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were was shot dead in a suspected targeted assassination on the streets of Nairobi. The opposition MP was ambushed by gunmen riding a motorcycle who had reportedly been trailing his vehicle. According to police, one of the assailants dismounted and shot him at close range along Ngong Road, near a well-secured and frequently patrolled roundabout.
Police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga confirmed that the murder appeared “targeted and predetermined.” The legislator’s driver and bodyguard, who were uninjured in the attack, rushed him to Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Those who represented Kasipul constituency in western Kenya had previously voiced concerns about threats to his life. In February, he openly warned of a potential assassination plot, which he linked to local political rivalries. He stated then, “When you hear I have been killed, Kasipul will not be the same again… but I know they won’t kill me because I have the Bible in my phone and another under my pillow.”
Following the Wednesday night shooting, senior police officials and detectives visited the scene, and homicide detectives returned the next day to advance investigations. Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed that the inquiry is progressing swiftly.
President William Ruto has ordered a full investigation, emphasizing that those behind the killing must be brought to justice. Parliament Speaker Moses Wetang’ula described Were as a “fearless and distinguished” legislator and expressed deep sorrow over the shocking loss.
Charles Ong’ondo Were was in his second term as a Member of Parliament under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), led by veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga. In his statement, Odinga condemned the assassination as a “cold-blooded” act, mourning the death of what he called “a gallant son of the soil.”
The motive for the assassination is still unclear. However, Were was known for his alignment with the “broad-based government” formed after Odinga and Ruto reached a political compromise following the disputed 2022 presidential elections. The move saw some opposition members, including Were, support government-led initiatives.
The brazen killing has sent shockwaves through Kenya’s political landscape, sparking calls for urgent justice and renewed concerns over political violence in the country ahead of future elections.
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