Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were succumbed to injuries that he sustained after being shot at close range by two gunmen, riding on a motorcycle, along Ngong Road on Wednesday, April 30 evening.
In his notification to MPs about their colleague’s demise, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula described the legislator as an affable, humble and non-confrontational person.
“The shooting leading to his tragic demise therefore highlights the disheartening depreciation of the cardinal virtue of respect for the sanctity of life and degradation of the principles upon which our land is founded,” Speaker Wetangula said.
Consequently, Speaker Wetangula has since instructed the Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja to “expeditiously but thoroughly” investigate the incident and report the findings to the House immediately.
“Honourable Members, on behalf of all Members of the National Assembly, the entire Parliamentary fraternity, and indeed on my own behalf, I take this early opportunity to convey our heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Hon. Charles Ong’ondi Were, the people of Kasipul Constituency and all his relatives and friends for losing such a gallant leader.”
NPS: Heinous and premeditated
The National Police Service (NPS) is treating the incident as a “targeted and premeditated” attack.
According to NPS, confirmed reports indicate that at around 7:30 pm on Wednesday, April 30 evening, the white Toyota Crown vehicle carrying the late MP came to a stop at a red traffic light on Ngong Road, near the City Mortuary roundabout.
Eyewitnesses say that a motorcycle carrying a rider and a pillion passenger stopped alongside the car. The pillion passenger approached the vehicle and fired shots at the passenger side before jumping back onto the motorcycle and speeding away.
The driver of the car and a male passenger, both unhurt, managed to rush the injured MP to Nairobi Hospital. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead on arrival.
“The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and premeditated. At this stage, it is too early to provide further details,” the NPS says. “Senior police commanders and detectives are at the scene, piecing together the circumstances surrounding the death.”
The police service has vowed not to leave any stone unturned in investigating the matter, urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact contact the nearest police station, a law enforcement officer, or call the toll-free numbers: 999, 112, or #FichuakwaDCI (0800 722 203).
