Latest news with #Odinga
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.
01-05-2025
- Politics
Kenyan opposition MP is killed in 'targeted' shooting
NAIROBI, Kenya -- A Kenyan opposition legislator was shot dead in the capital Nairobi in what police have described as a 'targeted and premeditated' crime. MP Charles Were was shot on Wednesday night after his car stopped at a roundabout on a busy major road. President Willian Ruto urged police to conduct a 'through investigation' and said Thursday that those responsible 'must be held to account.' Were was in the company of his driver and bodyguard when a motorcycle taxi approached their car, and a passenger disembarked and approached their car before firing at the MP, police said in a statement. The legislator was reelected in 2022 to represent Kasipul constituency in western Kenya for the Orange Democratic Movement party. Opposition leader Raila Odinga described Were as a 'gallant son of the soil.' Odinga was President Ruto's main challenger in the 2022 general election. Political tensions in Kenya have simmed down since last year, when the country saw a series of opposition-backed anti-government protests during which dozens of people died. Ruto later appointed members of Odinga's party to the cabinet and the two leaders signed a political pact in March this year.
CNN
01-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Kenya police say lawmaker's killing ‘targeted and premeditated'
Kenya's police have said the fatal shooting of a lawmaker by a gunman aboard a motorcycle in the capital Nairobi on Wednesday evening appeared to be targeted and premeditated. Charles Were, a member of parliament representing Kasipul constituency in Kenya's west, was shot dead at around 7:30 p.m. (11.30 a.m. ET) when his vehicle was stopped at a traffic light on Ngong Road, police said in a statement released late on Wednesday. According to witnesses, the shooter was riding as a passenger on a motorcycle that stopped alongside the car, police said. 'The pillion passenger approached the vehicle and fired shots at the passenger side before jumping back onto the motorcycle and speeding away,' police said. 'The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and premeditated.' Political assassinations are unusual in Kenya, a relatively stable country in a region that has experienced several civil conflicts in recent years. Were was a member of the opposition ODM party led by veteran politician Raila Odinga, who lost to William Ruto in the last election in 2022. 'Were is no more; mercilessly and in cold blood, gunned down by an assassin in Nairobi this evening,' Odinga wrote on X. Odinga rejected the 2022 election result, alleging irregularities, but Odinga and some of his allies have since struck agreements to work with Ruto to address Kenya's economic and political challenges.
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.
Hamilton Spectator
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Kenyan opposition MP is killed in ‘targeted' shooting
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A Kenyan opposition legislator was shot dead in the capital Nairobi in what police have described as a 'targeted and premeditated' crime. MP Charles Were was shot on Wednesday night after his car stopped at a roundabout on a busy major road. President Willian Ruto urged police to conduct a 'through investigation' and said Thursday that those responsible 'must be held to account.' Were was in the company of his driver and bodyguard when a motorcycle taxi approached their car, and a passenger disembarked and approached their car before firing at the MP, police said in a statement. The legislator was reelected in 2022 to represent Kasipul constituency in western Kenya for the Orange Democratic Movement party. Opposition leader Raila Odinga described Were as a 'gallant son of the soil.' Odinga was President Ruto's main challenger in the 2022 general election. Political tensions in Kenya have simmed down since last year, when the country saw a series of opposition-backed anti-government protests during which dozens of people died. Ruto later appointed members of Odinga's party to the cabinet and the two leaders signed a political pact in March this year.
