Throughout Kenya's history, several high-profile political figures have been victims of targeted assassinations, which mostly occurred at a time when the country faced political instability.
The gruesome murders often left a lasting impact on Kenyans, as the deaths influenced members of the public's trust in the government of the day.
Each assassination that took place in Kenya either deepened political differences, prompted violence, or political activism. The assassinations also created an environment of fear among citizens.
Major assassination events in Kenya included the murder of figures like Pio Gama Pinto, Tom Mboya, JM Kariuki, Tony Ndilinge, Mugabe Were, George Muchai, and the recent murder of Charles Were.
In the wake of Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Were's murder, Kenyans.co.ke delved into the assassination of each political figure.
Tom Mboya
Tom Mboya, one of the country's most prominent independence politicians, was assassinated on July 5, 1969, in Nairobi. He was shot dead along Moi Avenue.
At the time of his death, Mboya served as the Minister for Economic Planning and died at the age of 39. His assassination sparked widespread outrage, as most Kenyans linked his death to his political stance.
However, the main suspect behind Mboya's murder was arrested and later convicted. Meanwhile, the deceased was buried in a mausoleum built on Rusinga Island.
JM Kariuki
Josiah Mwangi Kariuki, a politician who served during former President Jomo Kenyatta's reign, was assassinated in 1975.
His remains were found in Ngong Forest by a herd boy. His hands had been chopped off, his eyes gouged out, and his face burnt with acid.
Kariuki's death sparked widespread protests, particularly from the University of Nairobi (UoN) students, who marched through the streets of Nairobi city. Despite his gruesome murder, Kariuki's death remains unsolved.
Pio Gama Pinto
Pio Gama Pinto, a Kenyan journalist and freedom fighter of Goan descent, was assassinated on February 24, 1965. His murder became Kenya’s first political assassination after independence.
Pinto was shot at close range in the driveway while waiting for the gate to be opened. He was with his daughter at the time of the assassination.
Tony Ndilinge
The former Kilome MP was assassinated in 2001 after gunmen shot him twice in the head as he parked his car outside a bar in Nairobi's Githurai Estate.
A section of opposition leaders at the time termed it a political assassination as Ndilinge was considered a major critic of former President Daniel Moi's government.
Mugabe Were
The former Embakasi MP was assassinated on January 29, 2008, just weeks after the disputed 2007 general elections. He was murdered at a time when the country was experiencing severe political and ethnic violence.
George Muchai
The former Kabete MP George Muchai was assassinated in 2015. He was returning from a family dinner when a group of armed people in a car stopped him before shooting him alongside his two bodyguards.
In 2011, Muchai had survived an attempted murder.
Charles Were
The now former Kasipul Member of Parliament was shot dead by unknown assailants on Wednesday, April 30, at the Ngong Road, near the City Mortuary roundabout in Nairobi.
According to a police report, yesterday evening, at around 7:30 pm, a white Toyota Crown vehicle stopped at a red traffic light on Ngong Road. Minutes later, a motorcycle carrying a rider and a pillion passenger stopped alongside the Toyota car.
The pillion passenger approached the vehicle and fired shots at the MP before jumping back onto the motorcycle and speeding away. Attempts to rush Were to the hospital proved futile as he passed away moments after arrival at the Nairobi Hospital.
