Kenyan lawmaker assassinated in what police call 'targeted, premeditated' attack

NAIROBI, Kenya

A Kenyan opposition member of Parliament was shot and killed in the capital, Nairobi, on Wednesday evening in what police have described as a “targeted and premeditated” assassination.

Charles Ong’ondo Were, who represented the Kasipul constituency in western Kenya, was attacked while inside his vehicle near a busy intersection along Ngong Road in Nairobi.

Speaking Thursday morning, police said early evidence suggests the killing was not random.

“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,” Kenya National Police Service spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said in a statement.

The assailants, reported to be riding a motorcycle, fired multiple rounds at the lawmaker before speeding away, according to initial police findings.

Authorities confirmed that Were was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.

The lawmaker had in recent months come under growing criticism from constituents in Kasipul, some of whom accused him of mistreating locals and allegedly being linked to suspicious deaths in the region, claims he publicly denied.

While the motive for the killing remains unclear, opposition leaders condemned the act as political violence and called for a swift and impartial investigation.

In a statement, President William Ruto expressed shock and called for calm as investigations continue.