Kenyan Leaders Pay Emotional Tributes to Late Kasipul MP, Ong’ondo Were

Kasipul Member of Parliament, the late Charles Ong’ondo Were was laid to rest today, in a ceremony held in Oyugis, Homa Bay County. Led by Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga, a number of political leaders crowded Ong’ondo’s home to pay their tributes.

Giving a testimony of the late MP, Raila describe him as a very hard working, dedicated, and loveable civil servant whose death is a great loss to the nation.

Odinga revealed that there were early signs that Ong’ondo’s life, was in danger although measures were not properly taken.

The ODM party leader called on the National Police Service (NPS) to bring the perpetrators to book.

“He knew what was going to happen to him because when we were celebrating (sic) earlier this year, he came and jumped in my car after the celebrations and told me that some individuals following him had bad intentions,” Raila remarked.

Raila asserted that Ong’ondo had been trailed for a long time by his killers, that the MP knew them. He expressed optimism that the authorities will dig deep into the matter, to conduct investigations that will lead to apprehension of culprits.

“People of Kasipul and Homa Bay, you’ve lost a warrior. We stand here to condemn in the strongest terms possible the criminals who carried out this act and encourage the security services to bring these people to justice,” National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetangula echoed Raila’s sentiments.

Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi on the other hand, urged the public to maintain peace in honour of the late lawmaker while Treasury CS John Mbadi describe the late lawmaker as one who has left remarkable track record on his work.

The late Were was shot dead on Wednesday, April 30, in Nairobi evening traffic by a gunman whose accomplice was riding a motorbike.

At the moment, police officers are detaining nine suspects, including some of his close allies, linked with the murder of Were.