Nairobi, Kenya – A member of parliament, Charles Ong'ondo Were, representing the Kasipul constituency, was fatally shot in Nairobi on Wednesday evening in what police are calling a targeted and premeditated attack. The brazen assassination, carried out by a gunman on a motorcycle, has ignited outrage and prompted calls for a swift and thorough investigation.
The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 PM on April 30, 2025, as Were's vehicle paused at a traffic light on Ngong Road near the City Mortuary roundabout. According to police reports and witness accounts, the assailant was a passenger on a motorcycle that pulled up alongside the MP's car.
"The pillion passenger approached the vehicle and fired shots at the passenger side before jumping back onto the motorcycle and speeding away," police said in a statement. Police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga confirmed the targeted nature of the crime, stating, "The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and predetermined."
Tragically, Were's driver and bodyguard, who were both unharmed in the attack, rushed him to Nairobi Hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
President William Ruto has ordered a full investigation into the assassination, vowing that "those responsible must be held to account."
The assassination has sent shockwaves through political circles, particularly as it has emerged that Were had, in recent months, repeatedly voiced concerns about threats to his life. The soft-spoken legislator had publicly claimed that "hired goons" were plotting to assassinate him, attributing the plot to local politics. These warnings, now surfacing in a series of chilling videos, paint a picture of a man living under constant threat.
In one video, taken during a public event in his constituency just two months ago, Were claimed he was being followed and appealed to law enforcement for protection. He recounted two attacks that occurred during funerals in Nyatindo East Kamagak Ward, lamenting the lack of response from the security committee. "In the two incidents, the security committee did not make any comment," Were stated.
He accused outsiders of fomenting unrest in Kasipul, adding that even funerals were no longer safe. He described how a road was blocked after a funeral he attended in God Nyango, leaving him stranded. "After the funeral, the road was blocked and I could not pass, but luckily I had my security," he said. The following day, at another funeral in the same area, a man reportedly warned him against speaking, sparking anger among the villagers. "One of the notorious criminals stated that I will not talk there, even before prayers. The villagers there were angered," Were recounted.
In another video recorded just two weeks before his death, Were chillingly predicted his own assassination during a funeral. "When you hear I have been killed, Kasipul will not be the same again. But I know they won't kill me because I have the Bible in my phone and another one under my pillow," he told a crowd. He further claimed that a meeting had taken place between a Member of County Assembly (MCA) and a group of individuals to plan how they would bring people from Kisumu to create chaos at a funeral and then shoot him. "A meeting was held last night at 8 pm somewhere with an MCA and some people, and the plan is to bring people from Kisumu to cause a fracas at a funeral so they can shoot me," Were alleged.
The late MP's fears extended beyond specific threats. During the 2024 Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kasipul, Were walked out of the event after claiming that a junior officer was intimidating residents. "A junior officer was here in the morning, intimidating people. There is no civil servant who can do without a politician," he declared.
While Were insisted that outsiders were creating the turmoil and plotting against him, his political career was not without controversy. There had been claims linking him to incidents of violence in the area, with some residents previously accusing him of fuelling political unrest.
Were was serving his second term in parliament as a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), led by veteran politician Raila Odinga. He was first elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2022.
Odinga has expressed his grief and outrage at the assassination, describing Were as a "gallant son of the soil!" In a statement, Odinga said the legislator was "mercilessly and in cold blood, gunned down by an assassin."
Fellow legislators have also voiced their shock and disbelief. Saboti MP Caleb Amisi revealed that he had spoken with Were in Parliament just hours before his death. "I was with my colleague just this afternoon in Parliament, chatted, laughed, and he told me I need a conversation with you, ‘mambo si mazuri’ [things are not good]. His exact words. Five hours later, he is no more. The news is shocking," said Amisi.
Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo, Were’s sister-in-law, was among the first to speak after the fatal shooting. "My brother-in-law was an excellent MP who never missed a session of Parliament. He had reported that his life was in danger. I want to say this in front of the cameras: the perpetrator of this murder is known. There is a kind of violence creeping into Homa Bay politics that needs to be tamed by the law enforcement agencies," she said.
Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara said she had spent the entire afternoon with Were. "We even had tea and spent the entire afternoon together speaking over an array of things. I left him at around 7 pm as he headed home, only to be called by my driver, who had communicated with his driver, informing me that my friend had been shot dead!… I am in total shock, I cannot find the right words to say," she said.
Homa Bay Woman Representative Joyce Atieno Bensuda, who also saw Were at Parliament that evening, echoed Obara's sentiments. "He was having a discussion with his colleagues. He was addressing the MPs who were listening to him. I send my condolences to the family," she said.
National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed confirmed that Were had left Parliament about 30 minutes before the shooting. "He was at Parliament the whole afternoon. I ask the police to investigate the matter thoroughly. I convey my condolences and those of the party (ODM) to Were's family. Our party leader (Raila Odinga) was here too and has since left," he said.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has directed the Inspector General of Police to immediately investigate the Kasipul MP’s murder and submit the findings to Parliament without delay. He also called for improved protection for leaders and all Kenyans. "Further, the Inspector General of Police is required to enhance the security of all Kenyans, especially the security of our national leaders," he said.
On Thursday, homicide detectives visited the scene, with Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen stating that "investigations have advanced".
The motive for the assassination remains unclear, but the investigation is ongoing. The tragic death of Charles Ong'ondo Were has cast a dark shadow over Kenyan politics, raising serious questions about security and political tensions within the country.
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