Cliff Notes – Lawmaker shot dead in Nairobi

Charles Ong’ondo Were, a Kenyan MP, was shot dead in Nairobi, confirmed by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.
The shooting occurred around 19:30 local time, with eyewitnesses reporting that the assailants arrived on a motorbike.
Were represented the Kasipul constituency for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) amidst a backdrop of political tensions following the 2022 elections.

Lawmaker shot dead in Nairobi

Charles Ong’ondo Were, a Kenyan member of parliament, was shot dead on the streets of Nairobi, the speaker of the National Assembly said.

Speaker Moses Wetang’ula confirmed the news on his X account, calling the news “devastating.”

“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 shooting took place around 19:30 local time (16:30 UTC/GMT). Eyewitnesses said the parliament member was attacked by two people riding a motorbike, local media reported.

Charles Ong’ondo Were was a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and represented the Kasipul constituency in Homa Bay County, a rural area in the western part of the country.

ODM leader Raila Odinga lost to William Ruto in 2022, with Odinga later rejecting the results due to alleged irregularities.

Since then, Odinga struck a deal with Ruto to address some of the issues in Kenya.