Kenya was plunged into shock and mourning on Wednesday evening after Charles Ong’ondo Were, the Member of Parliament for Kasipul constituency, was fatally shot in Nairobi in what police have described as a “targeted and premeditated” assassination. The incident occurred along Ngong Road, a major thoroughfare in the capital, shortly after Were had left Parliament, where he had participated in legislative business earlier in the day.
According to police and eyewitness reports, Were’s vehicle was stopped at a traffic light when two men on a motorcycle approached. The passenger dismounted, fired multiple shots at close range into the car, and then fled with the driver. Were’s bodyguard and driver, both unharmed, rushed him to Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Investigators have begun reviewing surveillance footage from the busy intersection, which is typically monitored by traffic police and equipped with security cameras.
The assassination has sent shockwaves across Kenya’s political landscape. President William Ruto called for a comprehensive investigation, declaring, “Those accountable must face justice.” Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula described Were as a “fearless and distinguished” legislator and labeled the shooting “devastating” for the nation. ODM party leader Raila Odinga mourned the loss of a “gallant son of the soil,” and opposition leaders demanded swift action from law enforcement.
Were, serving his second term under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), had previously voiced concerns for his safety, telling local media and mourners just two months prior that his life was in danger. His killing comes amid rising anxiety among Kenya’s political class about threats to elected officials, especially in urban centers. The incident has reignited debate about the security of public figures, with recent reports of other leaders, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, claiming to be under surveillance or threat