Amisi criticizes leaders for turning Charles Were’s burial into political contest
Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has condemned politicians who used the funeral of slain Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were as a platform to push political interests instead of mourning the departed leader.
In a statement shared on his X account on Saturday, May 10, 2025, Amisi expressed disappointment over how the funeral was handled.
He said it was unfair for people to attend the funeral of a slain leader only to start declaring and suggesting his replacement, instead of mourning and demanding answers regarding his untimely death.
Amisi urged leaders to mourn first and only discuss matters like succession later, comparing the situation to how sons often rush to inherit responsibilities, unlike daughters.
“It is not fair for people to attend the funeral of a slain leader, and instead of mourning and demanding answers to his untimely death, they are declaring and suggesting who to replace him. Come mourn first, then later discuss his job among other inheritances,” Amisi stated.
Adding;
“You will never hear a daughter asking such at his father’s funeral, but our sons are always quick to jump into action. Kwani hawa vijana hawatupendi kama mabudaa wao?”
Succession
The funeral, held on Friday, May 9, at Were’s Kachien home in Homa Bay County, was attended by numerous leaders, including top ODM officials and MPS.
However, it quickly took a political turn as several lawmakers urged ODM party leader Raila Odinga to endorse a successor from Were’s family to complete the projects he had started in Kasipul.
Kipkelion West MP Hilary Nyiganet Arap Kosgei, a brother-in-law to the late MP, led the calls. He said the family believed that Were had been assassinated for political reasons.
Addressing Raila directly, he said that as a family, they were requesting him to endorse one of Were’s sons, stating that people who kill for political seats should not be rewarded with leadership. Kosgei said the family wanted to shame those who might have had a hand in Were’s death by ensuring they don’t benefit from it.
“Your Excellency, as a family, we request, you know those who killed want the position; we want to shame them and show that even after the killing, they will not get the seat. Baba (Raila), we ask you to endorse one of Were’s kids to finish his work,” Kosgei stated.
Lamu County Woman Representative Muthoni Murabu added a personal twist to the debate, saying Were had once shown her that he had two sons close to her age. She humorously noted that she had no ring on her finger, hinting she was single and willing to show one of the sons around parliament if he was elected. Her remarks drew loud cheers from the crowd.
The Woman Representative for Nyamira County echoed similar sentiments. In a light moment, she promised to give one of her daughters to marry Were’s son, adding that the family deserved continued leadership and support from the community and ODM.
ODM wrangles dominate
Beyond the succession talk, the funeral also exposed deep divisions within ODM over its relationship with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) government.
Some party members insisted that ODM was part of the government due to its leaders holding Cabinet positions and the Memorandum of Understanding between ODM and UDA. However, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna maintained that ODM was not in government and was preparing for the 2027 General Election.
Sifuna stressed the need to protect ODM as an institution. He said that even though some ODM members were appointed to serve in the Kenya Kwanza administration, the party had not joined the government.
He explained that Raila had told him ODM was still in the opposition, and therefore, he, as Secretary General, could not be in government.
“We must protect this institution called ODM. Ile kitu najua baba aliniambia, even after we donated our experts to the government, ODM is not in government, Baba(Raila) alisema mwenyewe and therefore, its secretary general cannot be in government,” Sifuna stated.
But Raila, in his address during the burial, advised Sifuna to tone down his criticism of ODM members serving in the government. Raila clarified that his working relationship with the Kenya Kwanza administration was based on a documented ten-point agenda and urged party members to support ODM Cabinet Secretaries in delivering their duties.
He reminded those present that while Sifuna speaks on behalf of the party, he should not always come off as too harsh.
“The spokesman of the party is the Secretary General. When Sifuna speaks, he speaks on behalf of the party but then sazingine apana kuwa chungu sana. We have an arrangement with Kenya Kwanza and put it in black and white, a 10-point agenda and want it to be fully implemented,” Raila said.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi also addressed the issue, urging Sifuna to support him and other ODM leaders in Cabinet. Mbadi said he had taken up the government role not only to serve Kenyans but also to demonstrate what an ODM-led government could have achieved had Raila won the presidency.
He insisted that if he failed in his role, ODM’s credibility would be damaged ahead of 2027. He appealed to Sifuna, reminding him that he remained a loyal ODM member and needed full support from the party.
“If I am there, I expect total support from the part, starting with the Secretary General. My brother Sifuna, I am a member of your party, and I don’t belong to any other. If I fail, there’s no way you can convince anyone in 2027 that ODM can run a government,” Mbadi said.
The back-and-forth between Mbadi and Sifuna follows an earlier confrontation in the Senate where Sifuna criticised Mbadi for failing to appear before a parliamentary committee.
Sifuna, who is also the Nairobi Senator, insisted that he would hold all CSs accountable, regardless of party affiliation, stating that no minister would be shielded from scrutiny under his watch.
