Blood on the Ballot: The Killing of Charles Ong’ondo Were and What It Means for Kenya

By Wasse Marlvine | AfricScope | May 9, 2025

It was a quiet night in Nairobi, the kind that hides danger behind still air and dark corners. Just after 9:30 PM on April 30, 2025, Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were stepped out of a private meeting near Kasarani. He had just finished talking with friends about upcoming work in his Kasipul constituency. Nothing seemed unusual. He was with his bodyguard and a close aide.

Then came the motorbikes.

Two motorcycles approached slowly. At first, they looked like regular riders, weaving through traffic as many do. But one of them stopped just a few meters away. The rider lifted a gun and fired three quick shots—two to the chest, one to the neck. Were fell to the ground.

His bodyguard reacted fast and shot back, but the attackers were already gone, disappearing into the dark streets like ghosts. The entire attack lasted only seconds.

Charles Ong’ondo Were died on the spot.

A Community in Pain

News of his death spread quickly. Back home in Kasipul, people were shocked. Many didn’t believe it at first. But when the confirmation came, grief covered the region like a storm.

Were was not just a politician. He was one of them. He visited their markets, helped fix local roads, and made sure their voices were heard in Parliament. He stood for ordinary people. He wasn’t loud, but he was honest and consistent.

In Oyugis, candlelight vigils were held. In Kendu Bay, traders closed their shops in mourning. Farmers spoke of how he once helped them get better tools. Teachers remembered how he pushed for classroom renovations. His work wasn’t perfect, but it was real. Now, they fear all that may stop.

The Dangerous Message Behind the Murder

The police called the killing “targeted and planned.” That meant it wasn’t a robbery or an accident. Someone wanted Were dead.

Why?

Some people point to recent political tensions. Were had taken strong positions in Parliament—especially during last year’s heated debates on the Finance Bill 2024. That bill, supported by powerful interests, aimed to raise taxes and cut spending, but many Kenyans believed it would hurt the poor. Were voted against it.

There were also claims that some MPs were offered money—up to KSh 2 million—to vote for the bill. If true, this shows how dirty politics has become. Were didn’t take the money. He stood firm.

Now he is gone.

Weeks later, investigators made significant breakthroughs. Ten suspects were arrested, including Were’s own driver and bodyguard. One suspect, a board member of the Lake Basin Development Authority, is alleged to have financed the killing. A ballistic report confirmed that a Sarsilmaz pistol recovered from the suspects was the weapon used in the attack. The presence of police uniforms and large cash sums among the recovered items pointed to a well-organized hit.

No one has confirmed a direct link between his vote and his killing. But the timing and manner of the murder still make people wonder.

When Killers Win, Everyone Loses

This is not the first time something like this has happened in Africa. From Burkina Faso’s Thomas Sankara to Kenya’s own Chris Msando, the continent has a long list of leaders who were killed and never got justice.

What happens if this murder is never solved?

It teaches other politicians to stay quiet. It tells them: “If you speak the truth, you could be next.” And it tells the people: “Your leaders are not safe. Your vote doesn’t protect them.”

That’s dangerous. It’s how fear spreads. And when fear grows, democracy shrinks.

The arrests have given a glimmer of hope, but full justice is far from guaranteed. Kenya now stands at a crossroads—will these suspects face real consequences, or will the case slowly fade from public memory like so many others before it?

What Must Be Done

Charles Ong’ondo Were’s death should not be forgotten. It should push us to act.

• We need stronger, honest institutions that protect leaders who speak for the people.

• We need real investigations, not empty words and long silences.

• We need African media to shine a light on these stories—loudly, fearlessly, and constantly.

• And we need the people—voters, youth, and communities—to keep asking questions and demanding answers.

Because when silence follows bullets, truth becomes the victim.