Gunmen Shoots Lawmaker Dead
A member of Kenya’s parliament, Charles Were, has been shot dead in what police believe was a planned and targeted attack.
The shocking incident occurred on Wednesday evening in Nairobi as the lawmaker’s vehicle stopped at a traffic light along Ngong Road.
Police reports indicate that the assailant was riding as a passenger on a motorcycle, popularly known as a boda boda, when he approached Were’s vehicle and opened fire at the passenger side.
The shooter quickly jumped back onto the motorcycle and fled the scene with the rider.
The incident happened around 7:30 p.m. local time.
Police say early investigations suggest the murder was premeditated.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the gunman acted swiftly before escaping with his accomplice.
Charles Were represented Kasipul constituency in western Kenya and was a member of the opposition ODM party, led by Raila Odinga.
Odinga, who reacted with shock on social media, described Were’s killing as a brutal and cold-blooded assassination.
Political killings are rare in Kenya, which is seen as one of the more stable nations in the East African region.
Were’s death has sparked concern and calls for swift investigations to bring the culprits to justice.
Raila Odinga, who lost to President William Ruto in the 2022 elections, had in recent times shown willingness to work with the government to find solutions to the country’s political and economic challenges.
The motive for the killing remains unclear, but authorities have launched a full investigation.
