According to BBC news, Mugabe Were, a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) was attacked outside his home, police said.
An ODM spokesman called for calm and restraint following the MP’s death. Mr Were is the first leading politician to have died amid violence that has gripped Kenya since December’s poll.
Two gunmen shot Mr Were as he drove up to the gate of his house in the capital just after midnight, Kenya police spokesman Eric Kiraithe was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying. “We are treating it as a murder but we are not ruling out anything, including political motives. We are urging everyone to remain calm,” he said.
Mr Were, who represented Nairobi’s Embakasai district, won a seat in the 27 December legislative election, which was held at the same time as the presidential vote.
ODM spokesman Tony Gachoka said: “The current situation makes one suspicious. All fingers will point at the government, and the government will have to show it is not involved.”
Another ODM spokesman, Salim Lome, called on people “to be peaceful and to only respond to this kind of violence by shunning violence”.
The appeal came amid reports of opposition supporters pouring onto the streets in several cities. In the Kibera slum in Nairobi, eyewitnesses spoke of clashes between rival ethnic groups.
Meanwhile the parties will begin formal talks on Tuesday to resolve the crisis, mediated by former UN chief Kofi Annan.
A UN spokesman said the dialogue process would start at 1600 local time (1300 GMT) at a neutral location.
We will try to provide updates on this page.
« Habari ya leo – Today’s news from Kenya 01/26/2008 – Eyes on the Media in Kenya; Kenya’s Wolf in Sheep skin or her redemption? »
[...] Democratic MP Melitus Mugabe Were was murdered by two gunmen as he drove up to the gate of his house with a shot in his eye and several shots in [...]
Pingback: Eyes on Kenya » Comments on the assasination of Melitus Mugabe Were | – 30. January 2008 @ 5:21 pm
[...] death of David Kimutai Too happened only 2 days after the assassination of ODM MP Melitus Mugabe Were. For what ever reason David Kimutai Too was killed, it demonstrates that the government is not [...]
Pingback: Eyes on Kenya » Orange Democratic Movement Member of Parliament David Kimutai Too shot dead by a Police officer | – 31. January 2008 @ 1:40 pm
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
Comment: sandrar – 10. September 2009 @ 2:47 pm