Nairobi, Kenya – A Kenyan member of parliament, Charles Ong’ondo Were, was shot dead in the street in the capital Nairobi on Wednesday, the speaker of the National Assembly confirmed following media reports.
“It is with profound shock and unspeakable sorrow that I have this evening received the devastating news of the fatal shooting of Hon. Ong’ondo Were, the Member of Parliament for Kasipul Constituency, in an incident that occurred along Ngong Road near City Mortuary, Nairobi,” speaker Moses Wetang’ula posted on X.
The incident happened around 7.30 pm (1630 GMT) with eyewitnesses reporting that Were was attacked by two assailants riding a motorbike, according to broadcaster Citizen TV.
“One of the gunmen reportedly alighted from the motorbike and opened fire at close range, fatally wounding the MP,” Citizen TV reported.
Were was a member of the Orange Democratic Movement, led by veteran politician Raila Odinga.
Odinga challenged the results of the 2022 election which he lost to President William Ruto, but has entered a political alliance with Ruto in recent months.
Were represented an area in Homa Bay county, a rural area in western Kenya.
© Agence France-Presse
