NAIROBI, Kenya – Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were was shot dead on Tuesday evening in what authorities suspect was a targeted assassination near the City Mortuary roundabout in Nairobi.
According to preliminary reports, the ODM legislator was ambushed by two gunmen on a motorcycle who had been trailing his vehicle.
At around 7:30 p.m., one of the assailants reportedly disembarked and fired multiple shots at close range, fatally wounding the MP.
His driver escaped unhurt, fuelling suspicions that the attackers were specifically targeting the lawmaker.
Eyewitnesses, including traffic police officers stationed at the roundabout, are said to have witnessed the brazen shooting. The MP was rushed to Nairobi Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
1/2 We have received with shock and disbelief the tragic death of the Hon. Charles Ong’ondo Were-MP Kaspul at the hands of a gunman along Ngong road Nairobi this evening. Hon. Were was in parliament the better part of the day and left at 6:15 pm after participating in business of
Were was serving his second term as the MP for Kasipul Constituency in Homa Bay County, having been elected on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket in 2017 and re-elected in 2022.
A former education officer, Were was known for his dedication to improving public education and championing grassroots development.