On August 1, 2001, Tony Ndilinge, the Member of Parliament for Kilome, was shot twice in the head at close range while parking his car outside a bar at around 5 a.m. in Githurai 44, Nairobi.
Although his vehicle, a Mitsubishi Pajero, was stolen, it was later recovered, and money along with cheques was found on his body, suggesting that robbery was not the motive.
Prior to his death, Ndilinge had reported to the police that he feared for his life and had informed his colleagues that some individuals were trailing him.
He had a reputation for being a vocal critic of President Daniel Arap Moi’s government, though he had recently reconciled with the ruling party, KANU, and had campaigned for them in a by-election shortly before his murder.
Kilome MP Tony Ndilinge Gunned Down
On the night before his death, Ndilinge visited a hotel along River Road at 9:00 p.m., having come from his Kilimani home where he had spent the day with his second wife.
It is reported that he moved to another hotel where, after surveying the surroundings, he noticed a woman sitting alone. He inquired with a bar attendant before buying her a beer.
The woman later narrated to the police at the time they were probing the MP’s death that she intended to head home that night, but Ndilinge offered to drop her off.
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At around 11:00 p.m., the duo left for Mwiki in Kasarani. Later, Ndilinge went to the Frontier Bar.
After 4:00 a.m., he dropped off the woman and then went to another local pub. There, he met another woman and promised to take her home to Githurai.
After dropping her, Ndilinge was shot twice in the head at close range while parking his car outside a bar at around 5 a.m. One bullet exited at the back of his head, while the other lodged in his head. The Kilome MP left behind 13 children.
Surprisingly, nothing was stolen from Ndilinge’s vehicle, which police found in Dandora. They believed his killers drove it there.
Two Arrested in Connection with Kilome MP Murder
Months later, two individuals, Margaret Wambui Njoroge, the second woman he met in the night before his demise and Joakim Ngure, were arrested in connection with Ndilinge’s murder.
However, the murder charges against them were later dropped by the then Attorney General, Amos Wako, without any explanation for their acquittal.
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Subsequently, a parliamentary select committee was established to investigate the mystery surrounding Ndilinge’s death.
Two main theories emerged during the investigation:
- Political Assassination: Many Members of Parliament, particularly from the opposition, believed that Ndilinge’s murder was politically motivated. This theory was supported by Ndilinge’s history of vocal criticism of the Moi government, despite his recent reconciliation with the ruling party and active campaigning for KANU in the Taveta by-election. He had voiced concerns to colleagues and the Speaker of Parliament about being trailed, indicating fears of political threats from rivals.
- Love Triangle: The committee investigated the possibility that Ndilinge’s death could be linked to a personal dispute, specifically his alleged involvement in a romantic relationship with someone else’s girlfriend—reportedly connected to Joakim Ngure, who was also a suspect in the murder. However, this theory was dismissed by some MPs, as the woman in question, who was also a suspect in the case, was said to have met the MP only once, on the night before his death.
Despite the initial arrests, no one has ever been convicted of Ndilinge’s murder. His family and numerous observers continue to believe that the killing was politically motivated, and the case remains unsolved to this day.
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