Melitus Mugabe Were Killed in Kenya

Melitus Mugabe Were, a parliament member in Kenya was shot outside of his house Tuesday morning as he was getting out of his car to go inside. Mr. Were was a member of parliament who, by some, was believed to be the one person who could have unlocked Kenya’s crisis and done some good for the nation that is spiraling faster and faster towards turmoil. According to his guard, who was unarmed, two men pulled him from the car, shot him twice and then drove off, leaving everything on the man’s body which would signify that this was a hit, not a robbery. By the time Mr. Were got to the hospital, he was dead, a bullet in the head and one in the eye.

Mr. Were was an opposition leader who had a remarkable life. He grew up in the slums of Kenya and then became a businessman, showing that people could get out of the slums. He sponsored teenage mothers to go to college and went as far as to marry a woman from another ethnic background, something considered taboo in Kenya. When Kenya started their downward spiral into chaos after a disputed election about a month ago, Mr. Were was in constant talks with many different ethnic leaders, trying desperately to get a peace march started to try and limit the hostilities in the nation that he loved.

Since the election on December 27, more than 800 people have been killed as riots continue to go on. Furthermore, United Nations officials have accused the government of Kenya of failing to do their job in protecting the citizens, including numerous young girls who have been raped in relocation camps. With the economy paralyzed, people fear that the nation is going towards disaster. With the police having no control, militias fight militias and innocents are being killed. There are even reports of beheading of people going on. Mr. Were was looking to stop this, but with his death, the big question that people are asking is can it be done? When will peace come in Kenya?