By Judy Maina
NAIROBI, Kenya — A Kenyan opposition member of Parliament was shot and killed in Nairobi on Wednesday night in what police are describing as a “targeted and premeditated” attack, sending shockwaves through the country’s political establishment.
Charles Were, who represented Kasipul constituency in western Kenya, was fatally shot after his car came to a stop at a roundabout along a busy highway in the capital, authorities said.
According to a police statement, a motorcycle taxi approached the vehicle, and one of the passengers disembarked and opened fire before fleeing the scene.
President William Ruto condemned the killing and on Thursday called for a “thorough investigation,” vowing that those responsible “must be held to account.”
Were, a member of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), was serving his second term in Parliament following his reelection in 2022. His killing comes at a time of relative calm in Kenya’s political landscape after months of unrest last year.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga, who led anti-government protests in 2023 and was Ruto’s main challenger in the 2022 presidential election, mourned Were as a “gallant son of the soil.”
The protests, sparked by economic hardship and electoral grievances, led to dozens of deaths and heightened national tensions. In a move to ease political friction,
President Ruto appointed several members of the opposition to his cabinet earlier this year. He and Odinga signed a political pact in March aimed at fostering cooperation and national dialogue.
The motive behind the attack on Mr. Were remains unclear, and no group or individual has claimed responsibility. Police have not disclosed further details but say investigations are ongoing.
The assassination has raised fears of renewed political instability in a country that has long grappled with violence around election cycles and shifting alliances.
