Kenyan Lawmaker Gunned Down in Nairobi

A Kenyan lawmaker, Charles Were, was tragically gunned down on a busy Nairobi street by a motorcycle-riding assassin on Wednesday evening. The police have described the attack as “targeted and premeditated.”

Details of the Attack

Mr. Were, who was serving a second term in Parliament, was in a vehicle stopped at a traffic light when he was killed. Witnesses reported that a person riding on the back of a motorcycle shot into the passenger side of Mr. Were’s car before fleeing with the driver.

Motive Unclear

At this point, a motive for the attack is not immediately clear. The police have stated that it is too early for them to provide additional details.

Calls for Investigation

President William Ruto of Kenya has called on the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. He also expressed his condolences to Mr. Were’s family, emphasizing that those responsible must be held accountable.

Political Connections

Mr. Were was a member of the opposition party led by Raila Odinga, Mr. Ruto’s main rival in the previous general election. Mr. Odinga condemned the shooting as a “shockingly barbaric” gangland-style execution.

Challenges in Kenya

Kenya, known for its relative stability in a volatile region, has faced challenges in recent years. Frustration with the government, including protests against a tax increase, has led to tensions and incidents of violence.

Economic Promises and Criticisms

Mr. Ruto, a wealthy businessman turned politician, campaigned on a platform of improving the economy for Kenyans. However, critics argue that progress has been slow and the promised improvements have not materialized.

In conclusion, the assassination of Charles Were has sent shockwaves through Kenya, highlighting the ongoing challenges and tensions within the country’s political landscape.

Former DRC President Joseph Kabila Faces Bid to Strip Immunity

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has launched a bid to strip former president Joseph Kabila of immunity so he can face trial on charges of supporting the M23 insurgency in the country’s east, where the government is seeking to draft a peace deal this week.

Kabila’s Background

Kabila, who agreed to step down in 2018 after almost two decades in power, has been out of the country since late 2023, mostly in SA. He said last month he would return to help find a solution to the crisis in the east, where Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have seized large areas this year.

Allegations Against Kabila

A return to DRC by Kabila, who has denied supporting the rebels, could complicate a US-backed bid to end the rebellion in eastern DRC, which contains valuable minerals that US President Donald Trump’s administration is keen to help mine.

Stripping of Immunity

Justice minister Constant Mutamba told reporters in Kinshasa on Wednesday evening that the DRC army’s attorney-general has asked the DRC’s senate to revoke the immunity from prosecution Kabila enjoys as a senator for life.

Peace Deal Efforts

The DRC and Rwanda have pledged to come up with a draft peace deal by May 2 and refrain from providing military support to armed groups, according to an agreement signed in Washington on April 25.

US Involvement

US President Donald Trump’s senior Africa adviser, Massad Boulos, told Reuters on Thursday the US is pushing the DRC and Rwanda to sign a peace accord at the White House in about two months.

Political Fallout

Kabila came to power in 2001 after his father’s assassination. He refused to stand down when his final term officially ended in 2016, leading to deadly protests, before agreeing to leave office after an election in 2018.

Last month, the interior ministry suspended his political party, while the justice ministry said it would seize Kabila’s assets and the assets of party leaders.

Reactions

Ferdinand Kambere, permanent secretary of Kabila’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy, said the attempt to lift Kabila’s immunity showed the government feared Kabila’s return. He blamed President Felix Tshisekedi, a Kabila rival, for causing the crisis in the east.

Source: Reuters

Wycliffe Muia

A Kenyan member of parliament has been shot dead in the streets of the capital Nairobi by gunmen on a motorcycle in a suspected assassination. Police said the attackers had been trailing Charles Ong’ondo Were’s vehicle before one of them got off the motorbike and shot him at close range. “The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and predetermined,” police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said in a statement.

The opposition MP had two months ago complained about threats to his life, local media reported. After the shooting on late Wednesday, his driver and bodyguard, both unhurt, managed to rush the injured MP to Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The attack happened along Ngong Road near a busy roundabout often manned by traffic police officers and well secured with security cameras.

Shortly after the shooting, senior police commanders and detectives visited the scene and investigations are underway, police said. President William Ruto has ordered police to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack, adding that: “Those responsible must be held to account.”

Fellow legislators who visited the scene expressed shock and outrage at the killing and called for swift investigations and justice. Parliament Speaker Moses Wetang’ula described the MP as a “fearless and distinguished” legislator, calling his shooting “devastating”. Were represented the Kasipul constituency in western Kenya as a member of the Orange Democratic Movement, led by veteran politician Raila Odinga.

In his statement, Odinga condemned the killing, saying the legislator was “mercilessly and in cold blood, gunned down by an assassin.” “We have lost a gallant son of the soil!” Odinga added. Odinga lost to President Ruto in the 2022 election and rejected the results due to alleged irregularities.

The former prime minister has since struck a political deal with Ruto which saw some opposition members join cabinet in what is referred as the “broad-based government”.