By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Kenya’s President William Ruto has pledged a comprehensive investigation into the killing of Charles Ong’ondo Were, a member of parliament representing Kasipul Constituency, who was gunned down in Nairobi on Wednesday night in what police describe as a targeted hit.
According to authorities, the attack occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. along Ngong Road, one of the capital’s main highways.
Were was seated in his vehicle at a red light when a passenger on a motorcycle opened fire at close range before fleeing the scene. The MP was rushed to Nairobi Hospital by his driver but was pronounced dead on arrival.
“The evidence points to a calculated and deliberate act,” said National Police Service spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga. Neither the driver nor a second passenger in the vehicle was harmed.
Images from the scene showed the car’s front passenger window shattered, with visible bloodstains on the interior.
Forensic teams combed through the evidence overnight as officials vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
President Ruto, addressing the nation on Thursday, condemned the act and urged law enforcement to pursue the killers without hesitation. “This heinous act cannot go unpunished,” he said on social media.
Political violence is uncommon in Kenya, a nation seen as a relative pillar of stability in East Africa. The assassination has sparked national outrage and calls for political unity.
Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula mourned the legislator, describing Were as “a committed leader and a defender of democratic values.”
Opposition leader Raila Odinga, whose Orange Democratic Movement the slain MP belonged to, also paid tribute, calling him “a courageous son of Kenya” and expressing deep sorrow over the loss.
Lawmakers from Homa Bay County, where Kasipul is located, raised concerns about growing political tensions.
MP Lilian Gogo warned of an emerging pattern of violence in the region, noting that “we are witnessing the death of a public servant who devoted his life to his people.”
The last high-profile political killing in Kenya occurred in 2015, when MP and labor leader George Muchai was assassinated in Nairobi under similar circumstances.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing, but no arrests have been made yet.
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