• Kenyan MP Charles Were shot dead in Nairobi by gunmen on motorcycles.
• Police describe the attack as a "targeted and premeditated" assassination.
• Calls for thorough investigations have been made by political leaders.
• Were was a member of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement party.
• Political tensions persist following the 2022 election between Were's party and the ruling government.

A Kenyan lawmaker, Charles Ong'ondo Were, was shot dead on Wednesday evening in Nairobi, reportedly by gunmen on motorcycles, according to police and multiple news sources. The attack occurred when his vehicle stopped at a traffic light along Ngong Road. Police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga stated, "The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and premeditated," indicating a prearranged attack motivated by political factors, as noted by several media reports, including Reuters, BBC, and Africanews.

Witnesses revealed that the shooter dismounted a motorcycle and fired multiple shots at Were's vehicle before fleeing the scene. Despite being rushed to a hospital, Were succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival. The police confirmed that the crime seemed organized rather than random, highlighting ongoing concerns about political violence in Kenya. This was reported by Al Jazeera and TRT Global.

President William Ruto urged law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation, asserting that "those responsible must be held to account." The late legislator was a member of the opposition party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), led by Raila Odinga, who condemned the killing as a significant loss for the country, referring to Were as a "gallant son of the soil." These sentiments were echoed by legislators who demanded swift justice to address the political motivations behind the violent act, as highlighted by reports from Reuters, TRT Global, and Africanews.

This incident has raised alarms about the safety and stability of political figures in Kenya, particularly following tensions arising from the disputed 2022 election results, which saw Odinga and Ruto as the key rivals. Reports of threats made against Were prior to his assassination have further fueled the narrative of escalating violence in the political landscape of the country, according to BBC and Al Jazeera.