Kenya opposition MP fatally shot

2008-01-29 07:22

Tom Odula

Nairobi - An opposition parliamentarian was fatally shot early on Tuesday in the capital and police said they were not ruling out "political motives".

Mugabe Were's death was sure to cause more tension as riots and ethnic fighting linked to Kenya's disputed presidential election convulse the country.

Two gunmen shot Were as he drove up to the gate of his house in suburban Nairobi just after midnight, Kenya police spokesperson Eric Kiraithe said.

He said: "We are treating it as a murder, but we are not ruling out anything including political motives. We are urging everyone to remain calm."

Were was among a slew of opposition members who won seats in the December 27 legislative vote, held at the same time as the presidential election. President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner of the race, which returned him to power for a second five-year term.

But international and local observers said the vote tally was rigged. Opposition leader Raila Odinga said Kibaki must step down and only new elections would bring peace.

- AP