In brief
A Kenyan opposition leader, Charles Were, was shot and killed in a shocking daylight attack in Nairobi, highlighting increasing tensions and violence in the city.
In a brazen move that has left the nation reeling, Charles Were, an opposition lawmaker, was gunned down on a bustling Nairobi street by an assassin on a motorcycle. The killing took place while Were was stopped at a red light, with witnesses recounting how a shooter dismounted from the motorcycle and shot into the passenger side of his car before speeding away. The police labeled this incident a “targeted and premeditated” attack but have not yet established a motive.Kenya’s President William Ruto has urged for a thorough investigation and expressed his condolences to Were’s family. The deceased was a member of the Orange Democratic Movement, which is led by Raila Odinga, Ruto’s main electoral rival. Odinga condemned the shooting as reminiscent of “gangland-style execution,” adding to the national outcry for justice.Despite being viewed as a relatively stable nation in a tumultuous region, Kenya has seen rising frustrations, particularly over government policies, including a contentious tax increase that recently sparked protests. As the investigation unfolds, the safety of politicians and citizens alike is under scrutiny.
