The National Police Service (NPS) has stated that the fatal shooting of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were appears to be both targeted and premeditated.

In a statement on Thursday, May 1, NPS said the incident occurred around 7:30 PM on Wednesday after Were’s Toyota Crown car stopped at a traffic light on Ngong Road.

The service noted that a motorcycle carrying a rider and a pillion passenger stopped near the car before approaching the vehicle’s passenger side and firing shots.

“According to reports confirmed by the Nairobi Regional Police Commander, at around 7:30 pm this evening, a white Toyota Crown vehicle came to a stop at a red traffic light on Ngong Road, near the City Mortuary roundabout,” NPS stated.

“Eyewitnesses have indicated 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 escaped the shooting incident unhurt but managed to rush Were to Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

NPS said that DCI detectives have launched investigations into the shooting incident, adding that they will spare no effort in investigating the matter.

“The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and premeditated. At this stage, it is too early to provide further details. Senior police commanders and detectives are at the scene, piecing together the circumstances surrounding the death,” the service stated.

Further, the police urged any member of the public who witnessed the incident to report to the nearest police station or contact the DCI and police toll-free numbers.

“Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is urged to contact the nearest police station, a law enforcement officer, or call the toll-free numbers: 999, 112, or #FichuakwaDCI (0800 722 203),” NPS added.

Were was serving in his second term as the Kasipul Member of Parliament. He was first elected to the National Assembly in 2017 on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket and was re-elected in the 2022 general election.