In Nairobi, Kenya, a tragic event unfolded when a member of the opposition was shot and killed in what authorities are calling a “targeted and premeditated” act. The incident took place on Wednesday night as Charles Were, a prominent Member of Parliament, was traveling in his vehicle, which had come to a stop at a bustling roundabout.
President William Ruto has expressed his concern over the incident, urging law enforcement to carry out a comprehensive investigation. He insisted that those responsible for this heinous crime be brought to justice. The police revealed that the assailant approached Were’s car on foot after disembarking from a motorcycle taxi before opening fire. At the time of the attack, Were was accompanied by his driver and bodyguard.
Charles Were had been a key figure in the African nation’s political landscape, having been reelected in 2022 as the representative of Kasipul constituency in Western Kenya, affiliated with the Orange Democratic Movement party. Opposition leader Raila Odinga paid tribute to Were, referring to him as a “gallant son of the soil” and acknowledging his contributions to the nation.
Raila Odinga had previously been a formidable opponent to President Ruto in the 2022 general elections. Tensions within the political sphere of Kenya had seen some resolution since that period, after numerous anti-government protests championed by the opposition resulted in several fatalities. In a bid to restore harmony, President Ruto included members of Odinga’s party in his cabinet, and the two leaders embarked on a political agreement earlier this year in March.