Over the years, Kenya has faced shocking incidents where three sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) were brutally murdered in separate events.
These high-profile killings, despite the MPs having state-provided security, sent waves of shock and fear across the nation, leaving many Kenyans questioning how such heinous acts could be carried out against prominent public figures.
Here are the stories of the three MPs who tragically lost their lives under mysterious and violent circumstances:
George Muchai
George Muchai, the former MP for Kabete, was gunned down in February 2015 in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) during the early hours of the morning. The attack occurred at around 2:30 a.m. as Muchai was heading home.
Traveling in a Toyota Fortuner, Muchai was accompanied by his two bodyguards and a driver when the tragedy struck at the Kenyatta Avenue-Uhuru Highway roundabout. Reports indicate that the assailants shot Muchai, one of his bodyguards, and the driver at close range, killing them instantly in their seats. The second bodyguard was shot and killed as he attempted to step out of the vehicle.
The attackers also stole a briefcase and firearms belonging to the bodyguards before fleeing the scene. Following the brutal attack, seven suspects were arrested, but the case remains unresolved. The defense hearing for the suspects is scheduled to take place on February 3, 2025.
Melitus Mugabe Were
Mellitus Mugabe Were, the late MP for Embakasi, was killed in January 2008 outside his home in the Woodley area of Nairobi.
Were had just been elected as the MP for Embakasi on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party ticket during the December 2007 general elections. Tragically, his tenure as an MP was cut short barely a month later when he was gunned down outside his home while waiting for the gate to be opened.
According to the security guard stationed at the gate, Were hooted for the gate to be opened, but before the guard could respond, gunshots rang out. When the guard checked, he found Were lying beside his car. He was rushed to the hospital, but doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.
Three individuals—James Omondi (alias Castro), Wycliffe Walimbwa Simiyu (alias Zimbo), and Paul Oman (alias Baba)—were arrested, charged, and found guilty of the murder. They were sentenced to death after the prosecution successfully demonstrated their involvement in the killing.
In delivering his judgment, Justice Luka Kimaru stated that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that the accused were responsible for Were’s murder.
David Kimutai Too
David Kimutai Too, the late MP for Ainamoi, met his untimely death in January 2008 in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.
A member of the ODM party, Too was murdered just days after the killing of his Embakasi counterpart, Mellitus Were. The two murders, occurring in the same week, raised tensions across the country, with many of the opposition’s supporters suspecting foul play.
Too was shot dead alongside a female traffic police officer, sparking rumors that his murder might have been linked to a love triangle.
The suspect in the case, Police Constable Andrew Moeche, was arrested and charged with the killings.
During his trial, Moeche argued that he acted in self-defense. However, Justice David Maraga, who later became Kenya’s Chief Justice, ruled that Moeche was guilty of manslaughter and sentenced him to two ten-year jail terms, to be served concurrently.
In his ruling, Maraga noted that there was no evidence to suggest that Moeche had premeditated the murders. However, he criticized Moeche for using excessive force, stating that the officer could have disarmed the victims without resorting to fatal gunshots.
“Considering that the suspect followed the deceased to the West Indies Estate and that neither of them fired even a single shot, he should have aimed to disable them by shooting their arms or legs rather than targeting their heads, chests, and abdomen,” Maraga remarked during his judgment.
Years later, during his vetting for the position of Chief Justice, Maraga defended his verdict, emphasizing that his decision was based on the evidence and facts presented during the trial.
These tragic incidents remain etched in the minds of Kenyans as moments that shook the nation and highlighted vulnerabilities even among the most protected individuals in the country.
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