Charles Ong'ondo Were Assassination: A Blow to Kenyan Governance and Stability

The killing, which police described as “targeted and premeditated,” occurred at a busy intersection near the City Mortuary roundabout zone typically monitored by traffic police and surveillance cameras. The incident has ignited national outrage, deepened political tensions, and raised urgent questions about the safety of elected officials and the integrity of Kenya’s democratic institutions.  

Often regarded as a regional bastion of stability in East Africa, Kenya has faced episodic political violence, particularly during contested elections. The 2022 presidential race, which saw William Ruto defeat veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga, was marred by allegations of irregularities and protests. Although Ruto and Odinga later struck a political truce in March 2025 to form a “broad-based government,” underlying distrust persists.  

Charles Ong'ondo Were, a member of Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), was first elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2022 as the MP for Kasipul Constituency in Homa Bay County. His political career was marked by strong community engagement and leadership in various parliamentary committees.  

Were was ambushed at approximately 7:30 PM local time. Eyewitnesses reported that a motorcycle passenger dismounted, approached his stationary vehicle, and fired multiple shots at close range. His driver and bodyguard, unharmed in the attack, rushed him to Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.  

Luke Anami, a Nairobi-based international affairs analyst, noted that the assassination exposes systemic security lapses: “Here was an MP who reported threats, yet no preventive action was taken beyond assigning a guard. The government’s inability to act on his warnings erodes public trust”. The attack also raises alarms about Kenya’s political climate, particularly given its timing amid efforts to stabilize Ruto’s administration through opposition alliances.  

The killing has reignited debates about Kenya’s democratic resilience. As Anami observed, “If even elected officials aren’t safe, ordinary citizens have little hope”. Enforcement of accountability remains critical: despite CCTV footage from the crime scene, skepticism persists about the police’s capacity to deliver justice, given past failures to address enforced disappearances and protest-related deaths.  

The assassination of Charles Ong'ondo Were represents a pivotal moment for Kenya’s democracy. As investigations unfold, the incident tests the government’s commitment to justice and its capacity to safeguard political dissent. For a nation still healing from post-election divisions, the path forward hinges on transparency, institutional accountability, and renewed efforts to bridge political divides. Failure to address these challenges risks entrenching a cycle of violence and distrust scenario Kenya can ill afford.