Kasipul MP Charles Ong'ondo Were who was shot dead in Nairobi on Wednesday 30th April 2025.

List of Kenyan MPs who were fatally shot while serving in office

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The following is a list of Kenyan Members of Parliament who were fatally shot while serving in office:

1. GEORGE MUCHAI – KABETE CONSTITUENCY

On 7 February 2015, George Muchai was assassinated in Nairobi’s Central Business District. Masked assailants ambushed his vehicle at the Kenyatta Avenue-Uhuru Highway roundabout, killing him, his two bodyguards, and his driver.

The attackers stole firearms and a briefcase before fleeing. Seven suspects were arrested, and as of early 2025, the trial remains ongoing.

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2. MELLITUS MUGABE WERE – Embakasi Constituency

On 29 January 2008, Mellitus Were was shot outside his residence in Woodley Estate, Nairobi. He had recently been elected on an ODM ticket. Three individuals were convicted of his murder and sentenced to death in 2015.

3. DAVID KIMUTAI TOO – Ainamoi Constituency

David Too was killed on 31 January 2008 in Eldoret, just days after Mellitus Were’s assassination. He was shot by a police officer, Andrew Moache, who claimed self-defense. The court found Moache guilty of manslaughter and sentenced him to two concurrent ten-year terms.

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4. TOM MBOYA – Nairobi Central Constituency

On 5 July 1969, Tom Mboya was assassinated on Government Road (now Moi Avenue) in Nairobi. His death sparked national outrage and is considered one of Kenya’s most significant political assassinations. The convicted assassin, Nahashon Isaac Njenga Njoroge, was later executed.

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5. ROBERT OUKO – Kisumu Town Constituency

Robert Ouko, serving as Foreign Minister, was found murdered on 13 February 1990 near his home in Koru. His assassination remains one of Kenya’s most controversial and unresolved cases.

6. PHILIP GODANA – Moyale Constituency

On 14 February 2015, Philip Godana was shot during a robbery at his home in Syokimau, Nairobi. Four intruders entered his residence, and upon encountering resistance, fatally shot him.

7. Tony Ndilinge- Kilome Constituency.

Mr Ndilinge was shot twice in the head as he parked his car outside a bar in Nairobi’s Githurai estate on August 1, 2001. Opposition MPs at the time termed it a politically motivated murder as Mr Ndilinge had been a vocal critic of Kenya’s second President, the Late Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi’s government.

But the MP had begun to mend fences with Mr Moi, and even campaigned for Kanu the weekend before he was killed.

8. Charles Were- Kasipul Constituency

Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Were passed away after suspected criminals within Nairobi city gunned him down.

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According to witnesses, the lawmaker was shot dead on Wednesday 30th April, 2025, evening near the City Mortuary roundabout by suspected gunmen who were trailing him.

Reports further indicated that the two gunmen were on a motorbike when they shot Were, before fleeing from the scene.

Efforts to rush him to the Nairobi Hospital proved futile as Were was pronounced dead on arrival at the facility.

The late Were was serving his second term in office since his first election as a legislator in 2017. In 2022 polls, he was reelected to office on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket.