The murder of a President, favorite politician, or other world leaders is a deep wound that resonates throughout the people governed.

Sometimes, the assassinations can be so shocking and profound that the pain cuts across generations of the country affected.

While reasons for assassinations range from thirst for power to fear of being outshined by a new member politically, some assassinate to protect dark secrets from being revealed.

In Kenya, assassination attempts on high-rank leaders have been reduced following heightened security by the government to prevent possible assassination attempts on its leaders following the dark experiences encountered during assassinations that took place during the pre-colonial period.

Below are the top assassinations that shook the country.

1.Thomas Joseph Mboya alias Tom Mboya

Mboya was a Pan Africanist author, and a trade unionist referred to as the most brilliant mind Kenya has ever had since independence.

At the time, he was regarded as one of the most highly acclaimed statesmen, who summed up the list of one of the founding fathers of Kenya leading negotiations for independence at the Lancaster House Conference.

Mboya who at the time of his death was a Minister for Economic Planning and Development met his untimely death on July 5, 1969.

At the time of his assassination, Mr. Mboya had stepped into Chaanis pharmacy, located along Government road now Moi Avenue in Nairobi CBD, to purchase a bottle of lotion.

As he stepped out of the pharmacy, an assassin, late identified as Nahashon Njenga shot him in the chest and escaped into the ensuing confusion.

Mboya passed away in an ambulance as he was being rushed to the hospital. Grieved Kenyans flocked to the hospital in large numbers forcing police to control the crowd, in addition, crowds of people across the country protested over his death.

According to multiple reports, Mboya was killed to head off the possibility of his presidency in the future.

2. Pio Gama Pinto

Pinto was a  Journalist, a freedom fighter, and a socialist who had dedicated his life to the liberation of Kenyans.

Pinto met his untimely death on February 24, 1965, after two assassins identified as Kisilu Mutua and Chege Thuo opened fire at him at very close range as he was waiting for the gate to open, he died on the spot with his daughter sat with him in his car at the time of his death.

Upon being interrogated the two assassins who were teenagers at the time revealed that they were hired by Ochola Mak Anyengo, the secretary-general of the Kenya Petroleum oil workers union, who claimed that Pinto was interfering with the union.

3. Josiah Mwangi Kariuki alias J. M Kariuki

Kariuki was a politician and a socialist who served in the administration of President Jomo Kenyatta. During his tenure, he held different government positions from 1963 to 1975 when he met his untimely death.

Kariuki was last seen walking out of Hilton Hotel after a brief interview over tea with a Reuters correspondent. During the interview, he spoke about Kenyan politics revealing how he had been prevented from campaigning.

He was reported missing only for his body to be found by a herdsman in Ngong forest already decomposing.

The herdsman moved him to the city mortuary where he was booked as an "Unidentified male". It was revealed that he was betrayed by a friend who set him up, moments before his death, he had an  

4. Dr. John Robert Ouko alias Robert Ouko

Ouko served as Foreign Minister of Kenya between 1979 to 1990. During his stint as a government official, he served in both the Jomo Kenyatta government and Daniel Arap Mois government.

Prior to his death, Ouko disappeared from his farm near Muhoroni identified as Koru Farm Complex on the night of February 12, 1990.

His body was later found by a local heard boy identified as Joseph Shikuku at the foot of Got Alila Hill 2.8 kilometres away from his home on February 13, 1990

The news of the findings were however hidden from the police by local villagers, police, however, discovered his body on February 16 following an intensive search.

Forensics revealed that he had suffered a gunshot wound, a leg broken in two places and his body partially burnt, forcing the public to pressure president Moi to look into the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.

Prior to the forensics findings, initial reports revealed to the public that Ouko had committed suicide.

His housemaid, Selina Were Ndalo testified that she was awakened at around 3 am following a noise similar to a door being slammed shut, upon checking she saw a white car turning at the bottom of the minister's driveaway before driving off, only to realize it was Ouko who had been taken away in the car.