Some of the deaths occurred in broad daylight, while others happened under suspicious circumstances in police custody, sparking public outrage, protests, and renewed demands for justice and accountability.
From political leaders and religious figures to ordinary citizens, the killings dominated national discourse and left an indelible mark on the country.
Below are six murder cases that shocked Kenya and defined the year.
Charles Ong’ondo Were
Former Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were was assassinated on April 30, 2025, along Ngong Road in Nairobi.
Were was caught in a traffic jam when unknown assailants riding a motorcycle pulled up beside his vehicle and fired five shots at close range. He was rushed to Nairobi Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
The National Police Service described the killing as a targeted attack, triggering shock and condemnation across the country. The late legislator was laid to rest on May 9, 2025, at his home in Kachien Village, Kasipul Constituency.
Mathew Kyalo Mbombu
Prominent lawyer Mathew Kyalo Mbombu was gunned down on the evening of Tuesday, September 9, 2025, along Magadi Road in Nairobi.
Mbombu was stuck in traffic when gunmen shattered his car’s windshield and fired at least three shots. An autopsy later revealed he had been shot eight times at close range, with the cause of death attributed to severe injuries and excessive bleeding.
Mbombu was widely respected as an advocate, legal scholar, author, and mentor. His career spanned nearly three decades, during which he served as a lecturer, tribunal chair, and public servant.
Father Allois Cheruiyot Bett
Catholic priest Father Allois Cheruiyot Bett of Tot Parish in Elgeyo Marakwet was killed on May 2, 2025.
The priest was returning home after leading community prayers when he was ambushed by gunmen near Kabartile Village. A multi-agency security team later arrested six suspects in connection with the murder.
President William Ruto mourned Bett as a promoter of peace and a devoted servant of faith, vowing that those responsible would be brought to justice.
Father John Maina Ndegwa
The body of Father John Maina Ndegwa, who was in charge of Igwamiti Catholic Parish in Nyandarua County, was found severely injured along the Nakuru–Gilgil highway on May 16, 2025.
He was rushed to St Joseph Hospital in Gilgil but was pronounced dead on arrival. Investigators later linked his death to a donation he allegedly received from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Father Ndegwa was laid to rest on May 22, 2025, at Tabor Hill Spirituality Centre in Ol Joro Orok.
Boniface Mwangi Kariuki
Public outrage intensified after the killing of Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, who was shot at close range by a police officer during anti-government protests on June 17, 2025, in Nairobi’s Central Business District.
Kariuki, who was hawking face masks at the time, was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital, where he was later declared brain dead. He died on June 30 while undergoing treatment and was buried on July 11 in Murang’a County.
The officer involved, Constable Masinde Klinzy Barasa, was arrested and charged with murder.
Albert Ojwang
Perhaps the most disturbing case was the death of Albert Ojwang, who died under unclear circumstances at Central Police Station in Nairobi on June 8, 2025.
Ojwang had been arrested a day earlier in Homa Bay County and transported to Nairobi following a complaint by Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat. Police initially claimed Ojwang died by suicide, alleging he hit his head against a cell wall.
However, an autopsy contradicted the account, revealing blunt-force trauma to the head, neck compression, and widespread soft-tissue injuries. Ojwang’s death sparked nationwide protests and renewed scrutiny of police conduct.
Six suspects, including Central Police Station OCS Samson Talam, were arrested and charged with murder.
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