Source: BBC
A Kenyan member of parliament has been shot dead in the streets of the capital Nairobi by gunmen on a motorcycle in a suspected assassination.
Police said the attackers had been trailing Charles Ong’ondo Were’s vehicle before one of them got off the motorbike and shot him at close range.
“The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and predetermined,” police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said in a statement.
The opposition MP had two months ago complained about threats to his life, local media reported.
After the shooting on late Wednesday, his driver and bodyguard, both unhurt, managed to rush the injured MP to Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The attack happened along Ngong Road near a busy roundabout often manned by traffic police officers and well secured with security cameras.
Shortly after the shooting, senior police commanders and detectives visited the scene and investigations are underway, police said.
President William Ruto has ordered police to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack, adding that: “Those responsible must be held to account.”
Fellow legislators who visited the scene expressed shock and outrage at the killing and called for swift investigations and justice.
Parliament Speaker Moses Wetang’ula described the MP as a “fearless and distinguished” legislator, calling his shooting “devastating”.
Were represented the Kasipul constituency in western Kenya as a member of the Orange Democratic Movement, led by veteran politician Raila Odinga.
In his statement, Odinga condemned the killing, saying the legislator was “mercilessly and in cold blood, gunned down by an assassin”.
“We have lost a gallant son of the soil!” Odinga added.
Odinga lost to President Ruto in the 2022 election and rejected the results due to alleged irregularities.
The former prime minister has since struck a political deal with Ruto which saw some opposition members join cabinet in what is referred as the “broad-based government”.
5 thoughts on “Kenyan MP shot dead in ‘targeted’ attack in Nairobi”
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This is a deeply troubling story — an MP gunned down in what police are calling a targeted attack really shakes public confidence in Nairobi’s security. It’s hard to read about political violence like this and not wonder what it means for accountability and stability in the region. On a lighter note, seeing how news outlets now turn their reporting into a branded app via Turn content into a branded app makes me think about how fast stories like this travel these days.
This is a sad reminder of how fragile safety can be in cities like Nairobi. It also makes me think about how we process news like this online — sometimes stepping away to lighter content helps. I found a decent spot for that at Gameilo when I need a mental break. My thoughts go out to the family and colleagues affected by this tragedy.
It’s heartbreaking to hear about the loss of another public figure in such a violent attack. Kenya has seen too many incidents like this, and it makes you wonder what can be done to improve safety for elected officials and citizens alike. I hope the authorities are able to find those responsible quickly. By the way, if you’re looking for ways to stay informed on such issues, platforms like AI Tools Discovery and Launchpad can help you discover useful resources.
Sad to see this kind of targeted attack happen in Nairobi, and it makes you wonder how safe public figures really are right now. The report is brief, but the word “targeted” says a lot about how little room there is to call it random. I just hope the investigation is transparent and the family gets answers. On a lighter note, I sometimes follow local news and creative projects side by side, like this AI Image Video Creation Platform, because stories need to be told from many angles.