Kenya MP's killing appears ‘targeted and premeditated', police say
The fatal shooting of an opposition MP in Kenya appears to have been a targeted killing, police have said.
Charles Ong'ondo Were was shot dead on Wednesday evening after his vehicle stopped at a traffic light on Ngong Road, in the capital Nairobi, according to police.
Police said bystanders witnessed the passenger of a motorcycle open fire on the MP's car while it was stopped at the junction.
'The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and premeditated,' National Police Service spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said in a statement.
'At this stage, it is too early to provide further details,' Nyaga added.
Were served as a legislator for the constituency of Kasipul, in western Kenya, under the banner of the centre-left Orange Democratic Movement, which arose out of opposition to a 2005 proposal to replace the constitution with a text that critics said placed exorbitant power in the presidency.
Kenya's Daily Nation newspaper reported that Were had 'openly complained his life was in danger'.
Kenyan President William Ruto, allied with the centre-right United Democratic Alliance, expressed his condolences to Were's family and the people of Kasipul.
'We urge the police to conduct a thorough investigation into this incident,' Ruto said on X.
'Those responsible must be held to account.'
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who founded the Orange Democratic Movement, said Kenya had lost a 'gallant son of the soil'.
Odinga challenged the results of the 2022 election after losing to Ruto, claiming in a petition to the Supreme Court that the poll had been tainted by 'premeditated unlawful and criminal subversion'.
In March, Odinga and Ruto signed a memorandum of understanding to work together in a 'broad-based government'.
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Al Jazeera
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Kenya's pact of silence with its military is breaking
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In the following decade, the administration of President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed retired and serving military personnel, including the then-defence forces chief, to a variety of civilian governance roles. But as the military's power and visibility expanded, there was little expanded public oversight and scrutiny. This is despite the very public failures that came in the aftermath of the ill-advised invasion which shattered the myth of integrity and competence. The invasion itself, launched to great media fanfare, was soon bogged down. After a yearlong slog to the Somali port of Kismayo, Kenyan troops were almost immediately implicated in a smuggling racket, trafficking sugar and charcoal out in collusion with al-Shabab, the very enemy they were sent to fight. In 2016, at least 140 soldiers were killed in a single al-Shabab attack on the KDF base in El Adde – Kenya's deadliest battlefield loss. Back home, things weren't going much better. The invasion inspired a wave of terrorism. 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Al Jazeera
01-05-2025
- Al Jazeera
Kenya MP's killing appears ‘targeted and premeditated', police say
The fatal shooting of an opposition MP in Kenya appears to have been a targeted killing, police have said. Charles Ong'ondo Were was shot dead on Wednesday evening after his vehicle stopped at a traffic light on Ngong Road, in the capital Nairobi, according to police. Police said bystanders witnessed the passenger of a motorcycle open fire on the MP's car while it was stopped at the junction. 'The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and premeditated,' National Police Service spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said in a statement. 'At this stage, it is too early to provide further details,' Nyaga added. Were served as a legislator for the constituency of Kasipul, in western Kenya, under the banner of the centre-left Orange Democratic Movement, which arose out of opposition to a 2005 proposal to replace the constitution with a text that critics said placed exorbitant power in the presidency. Kenya's Daily Nation newspaper reported that Were had 'openly complained his life was in danger'. Kenyan President William Ruto, allied with the centre-right United Democratic Alliance, expressed his condolences to Were's family and the people of Kasipul. 'We urge the police to conduct a thorough investigation into this incident,' Ruto said on X. 'Those responsible must be held to account.' Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who founded the Orange Democratic Movement, said Kenya had lost a 'gallant son of the soil'. Odinga challenged the results of the 2022 election after losing to Ruto, claiming in a petition to the Supreme Court that the poll had been tainted by 'premeditated unlawful and criminal subversion'. In March, Odinga and Ruto signed a memorandum of understanding to work together in a 'broad-based government'.
Al Jazeera
01-05-2025
- Al Jazeera
Kenyan politician shot dead in his car in Nairobi
NewsFeed Kenyan politician shot dead in his car in Nairobi Police are investigating the killing of Kenyan MP Charles Ong'ondo Were, who was shot dead in his car in Nairobi. The politician was targeted by gunmen on a motorcycle, police said.
