Police believe the murder of Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ongondo Were was targeted and premeditated.
Were was shot at least four times and died on the spot.
He was shot in the chest as he sat in a co-driver’s seat in his car in a traffic jam near City Mortuary roundabout in Nairobi. His bodyguard and driver were not harmed.
Gunmen who had trailed him from Parliament while on a motorcycle struck as he waited for the traffic flow to move on Wednesday April 30 in the evening.
National Police Service (NPS) spokesman Michael Muchiri Nyaga said they regretted to confirm the tragic and senseless shooting of Were.
“According to reports confirmed by the Nairobi Regional Police Commander, at around 7:30 pm this evening, a white Toyota Crown vehicle came to a stop at a red traffic light on Ngong Road, near the City Mortuary roundabout.”
“Eyewitnesses have indicated that a motorcycle carrying a rider and a pillion passenger stopped alongside the car. The pillion passenger approached the vehicle and fired shots at the passenger side before jumping back onto the motorcycle and speeding away,” said Muchiri.
The driver of the car and a male passenger, both unhurt, managed to rush the injured man to Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, he added.
“The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and premeditated.”
“At this stage, it is too early to provide further details. Senior police commanders and detectives are at the scene, piecing together the circumstances surrounding the death,” said Muchiri.
He condemned what he called the heinous and senseless crime and will spare no eifort in investigating the matter.
ODM party which sponsored him to Parliament in the 2022 polls said Were was in parliament the better part of the day and left at 6:15 pm after participating in business of the day.
The party called on the police to investigate the shooting incident and bring the culprits to book.
Party leader Raila Odinga issued a statement saying they had lost gallant son of the soil.
“Hon Charles Ong’ondo Were is no more; mercilessly and in cold blood, gunned down by an assassin in Nairobi this evening.
Rest in Peace Hon Sir Charles Ong’ondo Were!” he said.
His colleagues also mourned the death and demanded justice. Were had said his life was in danger. He said some people planned to kill him over unknown reasons.
Inspector General of police Douglas Kanja, Director DCI Mohamed Amin, Nairobi police boss George Seda and PS interior Raymond Omollo were among those at the hospital. His body lay at the emergency side as several colleagues rushed there to view it.
Police later arrived at the entrance of the hospital and mounted a tape around Were’s car was as part of the probe into the murder. Amin said they are investigating murder.
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