Armed Men shot popular lawmaker dead

On the evening of Wednesday, April 30, 2025, Kenyan opposition Member of Parliament Charles Ong'ondo Were was fatally shot in Nairobi in what authorities have described as a targeted and premeditated attack. The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Ngong Road, a major thoroughfare in the capital. According to police reports, two assailants on a motorcycle trailed Were's vehicle. When the car stopped at a traffic light, one of the gunmen dismounted and fired multiple shots at close range into the passenger side, where Were was seated. His driver and bodyguard were unharmed, but Were was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. 

Charles Were represented the Kasipul constituency in western Kenya and was a member of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, led by Raila Odinga. He had been reelected in 2022 and was known for his vocal criticism of the government. In recent months, Were had expressed concerns for his safety, citing rising unrest in his constituency and hostility at public events.

President William Ruto condemned the killing and called for a thorough investigation to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice. Opposition leader Raila Odinga mourned Were as a devoted leader and described the assassination as a brutal loss.

As of now, no arrests have been made, and the motive behind the attack remains unclear. The incident has raised concerns about political stability and security in Kenya, a country that has experienced reduced political tensions since a political pact between Ruto and Odinga in March 2025.