Kenyan MP Assassinated in Bold Nairobi Attack: A Nation in Shock

On Wednesday evening, Charles Were, a Kenyan Member of Parliament representing the Kasipul constituency, was fatally shot while waiting in traffic on Ngong Road in Nairobi. Police reported that the assassination, which took place around 7:30 p.m., appeared to be both targeted and carefully planned.

According to witness accounts, the shooter was a passenger on a motorcycle that pulled up next to Were’s car at the traffic lights. The gunman dismounted, fired several shots at the passenger side of the vehicle, then quickly got back on the motorcycle and sped away with the driver.

In an official statement, police confirmed the calculated nature of the crime. "The pillion passenger approached the vehicle and fired shots at the passenger side before jumping back onto the motorcycle and speeding away,” the report read, describing the attack as deliberate and premeditated.

Such politically motivated killings are rare in Kenya, a country that has largely remained politically stable despite the volatile nature of the East African region. The assassination has sparked widespread concern about security for public officials.

Were was affiliated with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the opposition party led by Raila Odinga. Odinga, who was defeated by current President William Ruto in the 2022 elections, expressed his devastation on social media, writing, “Were is no more; mercilessly and in cold blood, gunned down by an assassin in Nairobi this evening.”

Although Odinga had initially disputed the 2022 election results due to alleged irregularities, he and some members of his party later agreed to cooperate with Ruto's administration to address pressing economic and political issues. This assassination threatens to disturb that fragile political balance.

The brutal killing of Charles Were has reignited fears of political violence and instability in Kenya. As investigations proceed, the country watches closely for answers—and justice.