Charles Ong’ondo Were, a member of parliament for Kasipul County, has been shot dead in the streets of Nairobi in Kenya by gunmen on a motorcycle in a suspected assassination.
The attack happened along Ngong Road near a busy roundabout, often manned by traffic police officers and well secured with security cameras.
Kenyan Police said Thursday that the attackers had been trailing 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 complained two months ago 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.
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 said.
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