Kenyan MP Charles Were Assassinated In Targeted Nairobi Shooting

 

Kenyan authorities have confirmed that the fatal shooting of Member of Parliament Charles Were in Nairobi on Wednesday evening was a premeditated and targeted attack.

Were, who represented the Kasipul constituency in western Kenya, was shot dead around 7:30 p.m. local time while his car was stopped at a traffic light on Ngong Road. According to police, the attacker was a passenger on a motorcycle that pulled up next to the MP's vehicle.

“The pillion passenger approached the vehicle and fired shots at the passenger side before jumping back onto the motorcycle and speeding away,” the police statement said. “The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and premeditated.”

Eyewitnesses corroborated the account, stating that the gunman fired multiple times before fleeing the scene with the motorcycle driver.

Political assassinations are rare in Kenya, a country considered relatively stable in a region marked by frequent unrest and conflict. The high-profile nature of the killing has shocked many and raised concerns about political violence.

Were was a member of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), led by veteran politician Raila Odinga. Odinga, who contested the 2022 presidential election and lost to William Ruto, posted a somber message on X (formerly Twitter) following the news.

“Were is no more; mercilessly and in cold blood, gunned down by an assassin in Nairobi this evening,” Odinga wrote.

Although Odinga initially rejected the 2022 election results over claims of irregularities, he and several ODM allies have since entered dialogue with President Ruto to address Kenya’s mounting economic and political challenges.

The investigation into Were’s murder is ongoing, with authorities pledging to bring the perpetrators to justice.