NAIROBI, Kenya – The shocking assassination of MP Charles Ong’ondo Were has left the country in mourning, but his tragic death echoes a long history of political killings in Kenya, where many leaders have met similar violent fates.
The late MP’s murder, carried out by gunmen on a motorcycle in the streets of Nairobi, has sparked fresh debates on the vulnerability of political figures in the country.
On a late Wednesday evening Apr 30, 2025, Charles Were was shot dead in an apparent assassination attempt.
Police reports indicate that the gunmen had been trailing Were’s vehicle before one of the assailants disembarked and shot him at close range.
Despite the heroic efforts of his driver and bodyguard, who rushed him to Nairobi Hospital, Were was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Just two months earlier, the ODM MP had expressed concerns about threats to his life, foreshadowing the tragic events that unfolded.
A Pattern of Political Assassinations in Kenya
The murder of Charles Ong’ondo Were is not the first time a Kenyan politician has been gunned down in a similar manner.
Several high-profile figures in Kenya’s political history have fallen victim to assassinations, executed in cold blood and often leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions.
Tom Mboya – A Fatal Shooting That Shook the Nation
One of the most notable and tragic political assassinations in Kenya’s history occurred on July 5, 1969, when Tom Mboya, Kenya’s then-Minister for Economic Planning, was gunned down on Moi Avenue (then Government Road).
Mboya, a highly influential figure in the post-independence government, was leaving Chhani’s Pharmacy when an assassin, later identified as Nahashon Isaac Njenga, opened fire, striking Mboya in the chest.
Despite being rushed to the hospital, Mboya died en route, leaving the country in turmoil.
His assassination sparked mass protests and political unrest, with thousands of mourners and political supporters flocking to Nairobi Hospital and later to his funeral in Homa Bay.
His murder was not only a tragic loss for Kenya but also marked one of the darkest moments of President Jomo Kenyatta’s reign.
Mboya’s assassination remains a turning point in Kenya’s political history, highlighting the dangerous intersection of politics, violence, and power struggles.
The killer, who was later secretly executed, had once been personally helped by Mboya to pursue military training in Bulgaria, adding a tragic irony to the case.
Melitus Mugabe Were – A Politician’s Life Cut Short
In 2008, Melitus Mugabe Were, a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) representing Embakasi Constituency, met a similar fate when he was shot dead outside his home in Woodley Estate, Nairobi.
After returning home late one night, Were was shot three times while waiting for his gate to open.
His wife, Agnes Wairimu, found him and rushed him to the hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival.
The murder sparked political tensions, with ODM leaders blaming the government for Were’s assassination, while President Mwai Kibaki condemned the killing as a “heinous crime.”
Although the police apprehended suspects, a mistrial and a prolonged legal process delayed justice until 2015, when three men were finally convicted for his murder.
George Muchai – A Well-Planned Attack
George Muchai, an MP for Kabete Constituency, met his tragic end in a similar manner in 2015.
Muchai, along with his two bodyguards and driver, was shot dead in a well-coordinated assassination on Kenyatta Avenue, Nairobi.
His vehicle was rammed by another car, and the gunmen emerged, spraying the vehicle with bullets at close range, killing all four occupants.
The attackers then fled the scene, stealing briefcases and weapons from the bodyguards, raising questions about the motive behind the attack.
Like the murders of other Kenyan politicians, the assassination of Muchai remains shrouded in mystery, with police unable to conclusively identify the reasons behind his murder.
The attack was condemned by both President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga, but the investigation into the case continues, with several suspects arrested in connection with the crime.
Jacob Juma – A Controversial Businessman’s Assassination
on May 6, 2016, controversial businessman Jacob Juma, known for his outspoken views on the government’s financial dealings, was shot dead while driving through Ngong Road, Nairobi.
Juma, who had previously warned of threats to his life, was attacked by gunmen who fired multiple shots at his vehicle while he was driving home from a bar in the upmarket Karen area.
The assailants, who fled the scene on motorbikes, left behind no signs of robbery—only Juma’s lifeless body in a pool of blood.
Juma, a self-made billionaire with mining and real estate interests, had been involved in several legal battles with the government over failed business deals, and had made several public statements suggesting that there were plans to kill him.
Despite the clear threats against him, his assassination remains one of the most high-profile political murders in recent years.
Investigations into his death were marred by mishandling of the crime scene and a lack of solid evidence, leaving his killers free and the motive unclear.
A Disturbing Pattern of Political Violence
The murders of Charles Were, Tom Mboya, Melitus Mugabe Were, George Muchai, and Jacob Juma share a common thread of political violence, often involving targeted killings carried out by gunmen on motorcycles or assailants using well-coordinated attacks.
These killings serve as stark reminders of the vulnerabilities that Kenyan politicians face in a landscape that is often characterized by political tension, corruption, and power struggles.
While investigations into these murders are ongoing, the deaths of these figures underscore the broader issues surrounding the safety of public officials in Kenya.
The recurrence of political assassinations raises questions about impunity, the lack of accountability, and the failure of security agencies to protect key political figures.
