Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Shot Dead by Gunman on Ngong Road

Charles Ong'ondo Were, the Member of Parliament for Kasipul Constituency, was fatally shot Wednesday evening near the City Mortuary roundabout in Nairobi. 

The brazen attack occurred around 7:30 PM, sending shockwaves through Kenya's political landscape. According to police reports and eyewitness accounts, two assailants on a motorcycle ambushed Were's vehicle. One of the gunmen dismounted and opened fire at close range, fatally wounding the MP. Were was pronounced dead upon arrival at Nairobi Hospital. His driver survived the attack without injury. The motive for the assassination remains under investigation. However, sources indicate that Were may have been the intended target. 

The attack comes two months after the legislator voiced concerns about his personal security, claiming his life was in danger. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has cordoned off the crime scene, a well-secured highway equipped with CCTV cameras, and is actively pursuing leads to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. The news of Were's assassination has triggered immediate condemnation and mourning across the political spectrum. 

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula describes the attack as "callous and cowardly" and eulogizes Were as a dedicated public servant. Leaders from both sides of the political aisle have expressed grief over the loss of a promising legislator. Saboti MP Caleb Amisi recounts a conversation with Were earlier today during a parliamentary session. 

"He told me Mambo si mazuri'" Amisi said, highlighting the distress Were may have been experiencing in the hours leading up to his death. 

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the party under whose banner Were was re-elected in the 2022 elections, has issued a statement mourning the loss of a respected leader and demanding a swift and thorough investigation into the assassination. The party expresses solidarity with Were's constituents in Homa Bay County, emphasizing the need for justice. Were was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Kasipul in 2017 and secured a second term in the 2022 elections. 

Within Parliament, he served as the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Cohesion and as a member of the Departmental Committee on Blue Economy and Irrigation. He was known for his efforts to promote unity and advance developmental initiatives in his constituency. Prior to his political career, Were held a Bachelor of Business Management and a Diploma in Business Management from Mt. Kenya University, as well as a Certificate in Computerized Accounting from Meru University. 

Were's commitment to public service was evident in his dedication to improving the lives of his constituents through initiatives focused on education, healthcare, and economic empowerment. The high-profile nature of the assassination, carried out in a busy area with surveillance, has raised broader security concerns in Nairobi. Political figures and the public are calling on law enforcement agencies to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice. 

The investigation is ongoing, with authorities under pressure to quickly deliver answers and justice for the slain MP. The MP's family has requested privacy.