NAIROBI, KENYA — The National Police Service (NPS) has issued a public appeal for individuals who may have witnessed the fatal shooting of Kasipul Member of Parliament (MP), Charles Ong’ondo Were, to come forward and provide their accounts at the nearest police station.
The appeal followed an update from Police Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga, who detailed the final moments leading up to Were’s tragic death at Nairobi Hospital.
In a statement released on Wednesday, April 30th, Nyaga outlined that on the previous evening, at approximately 7:30 pm, a white Toyota Crown vehicle came to a stop at a red traffic light situated on Ngong Road, near the City Mortuary roundabout.
According to eyewitnesses who have already spoken with the police, a motorcycle carrying both a rider and a pillion passenger pulled up alongside the Toyota vehicle.
Subsequently, the individual on the back of the motorcycle approached the passenger side of the car and discharged several shots before re-mounting the motorcycle and fleeing the scene at speed.
Following the shooting, the driver of the vehicle and a male passenger, who were both unharmed, managed to urgently transport the legislator to Nairobi Hospital. Tragically, Honourable Charles Were was pronounced dead upon arrival.
“Further details gathered at the hospital confirmed the deceased to be Honourable Charles Were, MP for Kasipul. The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and premeditated,” the police disclosed in their statement.
Despite providing this initial update, the police service emphasized that it is currently “too early to provide further details” as senior police commanders and detectives are actively on the ground, meticulously gathering evidence and reconstructing the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of the Kasipul MP.
The police service strongly condemned the heinous and senseless murder of the Kasipul legislator and affirmed its unwavering commitment to ensuring that those responsible for this crime are apprehended and brought to justice.
“The Service extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved family, parliamentary colleagues, constituents, and close associates. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is urged to contact the nearest police station,” the police service stated in their official communication. In the meantime, a significant number of Kenyans, including fellow politicians, have taken to various social media platforms to voice their condemnation of Were’s killing. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party issued a strong call on Wednesday night for a swift and thorough investigation into the matter.
According to the ODM party, Were had been present in Parliament for the majority of the day and departed at approximately 6:15 pm after participating in the day’s parliamentary proceedings.
Were was serving his second consecutive term as the Member of Parliament for Kasipul, having first been elected to the position in 2017 and subsequently re-elected in the 2022 general elections on an ODM party ticket.
Who was Charles Ong’ondo Were?
Charles Ong’ondo Were, the late Member of Parliament for Kasipul Constituency, was known for his affable demeanor and subtle humor. He was a native of Oyugis, located within the Kasipul constituency of Homa Bay County.
Were’s educational journey began at Kanabok Primary School, where he attended from 1976 to 1982. He then proceeded to Oyugis Secondary School, culminating in the completion of his secondary education in 1986.
In 2012, he pursued and successfully obtained a certificate from Meru University in 2013. He furthered his academic pursuits at Mt. Kenya University, earning a diploma in Business Management in 2014, following enrollment in 2013. He continued his studies at the same institution, graduating with a Bachelor of Business Management between 2015 and 2017. Later, in 2019, he enrolled in a master’s program in Procurement and Supplies at Mt. Kenya University.
Prior to his entry into politics, Were held senior executive positions in several private sector companies. From 2003 to 2022, he served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Victoria Cleaning Services. He also held the CEO position at Metrookam Properties Limited between 2006 and 2012, and at Benga Group Holding Limited from 2014 to 2022.
His political career commenced in 2017, when he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Kasipul constituency. He was subsequently re-elected in 2022 on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party ticket. During his tenure in Parliament, he served on the Departmental Committee on Blue Economy and Irrigation.
It appears that Were transitioned away from his corporate leadership roles following his re-election in 2022, dedicating his focus to his parliamentary duties. He was recognized as a successful businessman within Kenya.
