Mulembe Times | Friday, May 2, 2025 – 12:10 PM EAT
The nation is reeling after the shocking assassination of Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Were, who was gunned down in broad daylight along Valley Road, Nairobi, on Wednesday evening in a murder that bears the hallmarks of a highly coordinated hit.
Initial investigations led by Kenya’s Homicide Directorate have revealed disturbing details about the final moments of the late legislator’s life. According to multiple sources, CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts show that the MP was trailed by an armed suspect for nearly 30 minutes before he was killed in traffic at around 7:40 p.m.
Charles Were had spent most of his day attending parliamentary sessions. He left the National Assembly shortly before 7:00 p.m. accompanied by his driver and bodyguard, unaware of the looming danger.
After leaving Parliament Buildings, the MP’s official vehicle took City Hall Way, then joined Wabera Street. It was at this point that the MP’s bodyguard briefly stepped out of the vehicle to deposit Ksh. 20,000 into the MP’s phone at a nearby M-Pesa shop. That moment would prove crucial to investigators.
CCTV footage from shops along Wabera Street captured a suspicious man wearing a hoodie and carrying a bag, loitering close to the vehicle. The man appeared to be observing the car and its occupants. Minutes later, the MP’s vehicle was seen driving off, joining Kenyatta Avenue before switching to Ralph Bunche Road to avoid traffic congestion, eventually merging onto Argwings Kodhek Road.
Despite the evasive maneuvers, the vehicle was still being closely followed by the same man, now seen riding as a pillion passenger on a sports bike.
As the MP’s vehicle slowed at a red light along Valley Road, the bike stopped near it. The hooded man jumped off, circled the car, and fired four shots at close range—two to the chest and two to the hand of the legislator—before fleeing the scene with the rider. The bodyguard, seated behind the MP, was caught off guard and instinctively took cover. Once the assailants fled, he rushed to aid the bleeding MP and helped rush him to Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The driver and the bodyguard were unharmed, though visibly shaken by the attack. At the scene, police recovered three spent cartridges, which have been taken for ballistic analysis. Blood stains were found on the console and passenger seat, confirming the violence of the attack.
Detectives, led by Homicide Director Martin Nyuguto, returned to the crime scene on Thursday morning to reconstruct the events. They have since collected CCTV footage from multiple sources and extended their investigations to shops on Wabera Street and locations near the Parliament Buildings.
So far, three people have been questioned: the MP’s driver, his bodyguard, and the M-Pesa agent who served them earlier that evening. All are being treated as witnesses. Authorities have also requested mobile phone data and surveillance logs from mobile network operators to trace possible communication between the suspect and accomplices.
In a significant development, the probe has now expanded to Kasipul Constituency, where detectives are investigating whether the assassination may have been politically motivated. Charles Were, a vocal ODM legislator, had reportedly faced increasing political pressure and threats in recent months over his stance on constituency development funds and regional leadership wrangles.
Kenyans from all walks of life have expressed outrage and sorrow. Social media platforms are flooded with tributes and demands for justice. Parliament is expected to hold a special sitting next week in honor of the fallen MP.
The government has assured the public that no effort will be spared in tracking down the assassins. Meanwhile, calls have intensified for enhanced security for MPs, especially those involved in controversial political or parliamentary debates.
Charles Were’s death has not only robbed Kasipul of its elected leader but has also exposed the vulnerability of lawmakers and the growing brazenness of targeted political violence in Kenya.
