Latest news with #NairobiHospital
New York Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Lawmaker in Kenya Is Gunned Down by Motorcycle-Riding Assailant
A Kenyan lawmaker was gunned down on a busy Nairobi street by a motorcycle-riding assassin on Wednesday evening, in what the police described as a 'targeted and premeditated' attack. The lawmaker, Charles Were, who was serving a second term in Parliament, was in a vehicle stopped at a traffic light when he was killed, the police said. Witnesses reported that a person riding on the back of a motorcycle had hopped off and shot into the passenger side of Mr. Were's car before being whisked away by the motorcycle's driver, the police said. A motive was not immediately clear. Muchiri Nyaga, a police spokesman, said in a statement on Wednesday that it was too early for the authorities to provide additional details. President William Ruto of Kenya called on the police to 'conduct a thorough investigation' and expressed his condolences to Mr. Were's family. 'Those responsible must be held to account,' he said in a statement on Thursday. The police said the driver and another passenger in the car were unharmed in the shooting and quickly drove Mr. Were to Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. Mr. Were was re-elected to Parliament in 2022 as a member of the Orange Democratic Movement, the opposition party led by Raila Odinga, Mr. Ruto's main rival in the previous general election. Mr. Odinga, in a statement on Thursday, compared the daytime shooting to 'a gangland-style execution' that was 'shockingly barbaric.' Kenya has a reputation as a relatively stable nation in a volatile region. Frustration with the government hit a new high last year during deadly protests against a tax increase. Dozens of people were abducted or arbitrarily detained by security forces, according to activists and human rights groups. Mr. Ruto promoted the tax increase as a necessary measure to curb the country's staggering debt. A wealthy businessman who grew up poor, Mr. Ruto campaigned on a platform of improving the economy for Kenyans. His critics say that had not happened.
The Independent
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Kenyan MP shot dead in ‘devastating' targeted attack on streets of capital
A Kenyan lawmaker was shot dead by armed gunmen in capital Nairobi, a killing the police said appeared to be targeted and premeditated. Charles Ong'ondo Were, a member of parliament representing Kasipul constituency in Kenya 's west, died after being shot on the Ngong Road on Wednesday evening when his vehicle stopped at a traffic light, Kenya's police said in a statement. The shooter was riding as a passenger on a motorcycle that stopped alongside the lawmaker's car, the police said, citing a witness. "The pillion passenger approached the vehicle and fired shots at the passenger side before jumping back onto the motorcycle and speeding away," police officials said in a statement. "The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and premeditated,' they added. Were was inside the car along with his bodyguard and driver when the bike approached their car. The pillion passenger, police said, then disembarked and approached the lawmaker's car before firing at him. His driver and bodyguard were unhurt and rushed him to the Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, according to reports. Kenyan president Willian Ruto urged the police to conduct a 'thorough investigation' and said that those responsible 'must be held to account' in remarks issued on Thursday. Kenyan parliament speaker Moses Wetang'ula called Were a "fearless and distinguished" legislator, as he described his shooting as "devastating". Were was reelected in 2022 to represent Kasipul constituency in western Kenya for the Orange Democratic Movement Party and was a major opposition voice. His party leader Raila Odinga has described Were as a 'gallant son of the soil'. Mr Odinga was president Ruto's main challenger in the 2022 general election. "Were is no more; mercilessly and in cold blood, gunned down by an assassin in Nairobi this evening," Mr Odinga wrote on X. Mr Odinga had rejected the 2022 election result, alleging irregularities, but he and some of his allies have since struck agreements to work with Mr Ruto to address Kenya's economic and political challenges. Kenya has been a relatively stable country in the region which has witnessed several civil conflicts in recent years and political assassinations are unusual in the African nation.
BBC News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Who be di lawmaker wey gunmen shoot dead inside 'targeted' attack for Nairobi
Gunmen on top motorcycle don shoot one Kenyan member of parliament dead for di streets of di capital Nairobi, for wetin authorities suspect as assassination. Police tok say di attackers bin dey follow Charles Ong'ondo Were im motor bifor one of dem drop from di motorbike and shoot am for close range. "Di nature of dis crime be like say e dey targeted and predetermined," police tok-tok pesin Muchiri Nyaga tok for statement. Di MP wey dey opposition party bin complain about threats to im life two months ago, local media report. Afta di shooting on late Wednesday, im driver and bodyguard, wey no dey hurt, manage to rush di injured MP go Nairobi Hospital, wia e dey pronounced dead on arrival. Di attack happun along Ngong Road near one busy roundabout wey traffic police officers dey always dey and di place dey well secured wit security cameras. Shortly afta di shooting, senior police commanders and detectives visit di scene and investigations dey underway, police tok. President William Ruto don order police to conduct thorough investigation into di attack, e add say: "Dem must hold those responsible wey dey responsible to account." Fellow legislators wey visit di scene express shock and outrage at di killing and call for swift investigations and justice. Parliament Speaker Moses Wetang'ula describe di MP as a "fearless and distinguished" legislator, e call di shooting "devastating". Were bin represent Kasipul constituency for western Kenya as member of di Orange Democratic Movement, wey veteran politician Raila Odinga dey lead. For im statement, Odinga condemn di killing, e say assassin gun down di legislator "mercilessly and for inside cold blood". "We don lost one gallant son of di soil!" Odinga add. Odinga lost to President Ruto for di 2022 election and e reject di results sake of alleged irregularities. Di former prime minister don since struck one political deal wit Ruto wey see some opposition members join cabinet for wetin dey referred as di "broad-based government". Who be Charles Ong'ondo Were? Charles Ong'ondo Were na Kenyan politician wey dey elected as di Member of Parliament (MP) for Kasipul Constituency for Homa Bay County for 2017. Im political career start for 2017 wen dem elect am as di MP for Kasipul constituency. During im time for Parliament, e bin serve for di Departmental Committee on Blue Economy and Irrigation. Bifor e become politician, Oga Were bin work for di corporate sector. According to the Parliament website, Were get certificate, diploma, bachelor's degree, and master's degree between 2011 and 2019.
Saudi Gazette
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Kenyan MP shot dead in 'targeted' attack in Nairobi
NAIROBI — A Kenyan member of parliament has been shot dead in the streets of the capital Nairobi by gunmen on a motorcycle in a suspected assassination. Police said the attackers had been trailing Charles Ong'ondo Were's vehicle before one of them got off the motorbike and shot him at close range. "The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and predetermined," police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said in a statement. The opposition MP had two months ago complained about threats to his life, local media reported. After the shooting on late Wednesday, his driver and bodyguard, both unhurt, managed to rush the injured MP to Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The attack happened along Ngong Road near a busy roundabout often manned by traffic police officers and well secured with security cameras. Shortly after the shooting, senior police commanders and detectives visited the scene and investigations are underway, police said. President William Ruto has ordered police to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack, adding that: "Those responsible must be held to account." Fellow legislators who visited the scene expressed shock and outrage at the killing and called for swift investigations and justice. Parliament Speaker Moses Wetang'ula described the MP as a "fearless and distinguished" legislator, calling his shooting "devastating". Were represented the Kasipul constituency in western Kenya as a member of the Orange Democratic Movement, led by veteran politician Raila Odinga. In his statement, Odinga condemned the killing, saying the legislator was "mercilessly and in cold blood, gunned down by an assassin". "We have lost a gallant son of the soil!" Odinga added. Odinga lost to President Ruto in the 2022 election and rejected the results due to alleged irregularities. The former prime minister has since struck a political deal with Ruto which saw some opposition members join cabinet in what is referred as the "broad-based government". — BBC
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kenyan MP shot dead in 'targeted' attack in Nairobi
A Kenyan member of parliament has been shot dead in the streets of the capital Nairobi by gunmen on a motorcycle in a suspected assassination. Police said the attackers had been trailing Charles Ong'ondo Were's vehicle before one of them got off the motorbike and shot him at close range. "The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and predetermined," police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said in a statement. The opposition MP had two months ago complained about threats to his life, local media reported. After the shooting on late Wednesday, his driver and bodyguard, both unhurt, managed to rush the injured MP to Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. 'They aimed to kill' - BBC identifies security forces who shot Kenya anti-tax protesters The attack happened along Ngong Road near a busy roundabout often manned by traffic police officers and well secured with security cameras. Shortly after the shooting, senior police commanders and detectives visited the scene and investigations are underway, police said. President William Ruto has ordered police to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack, adding that: "Those responsible must be held to account." Fellow legislators who visited the scene expressed shock and outrage at the killing and called for swift investigations and justice. Parliament Speaker Moses Wetang'ula described the MP as a "fearless and distinguished" legislator, calling his shooting "devastating". Were represented the Kasipul constituency in western Kenya as a member of the Orange Democratic Movement, led by veteran politician Raila Odinga. In his statement, Odinga condemned the killing, saying the legislator was "mercilessly and in cold blood, gunned down by an assassin". "We have lost a gallant son of the soil!" Odinga added. Odinga lost to President Ruto in the 2022 election and rejected the results due to alleged irregularities. The former prime minister has since struck a political deal with Ruto which saw some opposition members join cabinet in what is referred as the "broad-based government". Tributes to man killed in Nairobi motorcade crash Why police baby killers are still not on trial seven years on WATCH: Inside the world of Kenya's 'killer cop' Batons, tear gas, live fire - Kenyans face police brutality Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
