Kenyan MP Assassinated in Targeted Attack on Nairobi Streets
Tragic Killing of Charles Ong’ondo Were Highlights Growing Political Tensions in Kenya
- MP Charles Ong’ondo Were was assassinated in a targeted attack by gunmen on a motorcycle in Nairobi
- Lawmakers and leaders, including Raila Odinga, condemn the killing and demand justice
- Authorities have launched a thorough investigation
A Kenyan Member of Parliament, Charles Ong’ondo Were, was fatally shot in a suspected assassination on the streets of Nairobi.
Gunmen on a motorcycle trailed his vehicle before one attacker shot him at close range. Police suspect the killing was premeditated and targeted.
Authorities revealed that the MP had previously reported receiving threats to his life. Following the late Wednesday attack, his driver and bodyguard rushed him to Nairobi Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. The shooting occurred along Ngong Road near a busy roundabout, an area typically monitored by traffic police and security cameras.
In response to the crime, President William Ruto has called for a comprehensive investigation, urging that those responsible be held accountable.
The killing has sparked outrage among fellow lawmakers, with Parliament Speaker Moses Wetang’ula condemning the incident and describing Were as a “fearless and distinguished” legislator.
While the exact motive remains unclear, Were had voiced concerns about threats to his life from local political figures. Earlier this year, he warned of an alleged plot to assassinate him linked to political unrest in his constituency, Kasipul.
Were was serving his second term in parliament as a member of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement, led by Raila Odinga. Odinga condemned the killing, hailing Were as a “gallant son of the soil” who was “mercilessly and in cold blood” gunned down.
As investigations continue, the nation waits for clarity on the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of this prominent opposition figure.
