Lamu Woman Rep shoots her shot at Ong’ondo Were’s son during funeral service
A light-hearted moment broke through the sombre atmosphere at the burial of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were on Friday, May 9, 2025, when Lamu Woman Representative Monica Marubu amused mourners by cheekily asking ODM party leader Raila Odinga to help her marry one of Were’s sons.
Speaking during tributes in Kachieng’ village, Homa Bay County, Marubu’s unexpected request drew laughter from the crowd and briefly lifted the mood of the emotionally charged ceremony.
The youthful leader shared that Were had once told her he had two sons, and playfully suggested that if Raila planned to send one to Parliament, she’d happily take him in, joking that everyone knows she is still single.
“Right Honourable former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Were loved ODM dearly, but he loved you personally and deeply. He once showed me that he had two sons who are close to my age. Raila, you can see I’m not wearing a ring on this hand. So, if you can send one of Were’s sons to Parliament, I, Muthoni, will take care of him. Raila, please organise me,” she said, smiling as she addressed the crowd.
The crowd erupted into laughter, and cameras quickly turned toward the late MP’s son, who appeared both shy and amused by the unexpected attention.
Marubu’s candid remark became one of the standout light moments of the day, offering a brief but welcome break from the overwhelming grief.
Family man
Beyond the humour, Marubu used her tribute to highlight Were’s devotion to his family and his values.
She recalled how the MP, known for his openness, spoke fondly of his two wives and children, and often insisted that if a man truly loved a woman, he should make her his wife rather than keep her in the shadows.
“He respected them deeply,” she said. “He would always say, ‘If you love them, marry them—don’t make them side-chicks.’”
She also encouraged Were’s two widows to spend the rest of their lives upholding the values they had gleaned from the slain MP, and reminded them never to forsake their children under any circumstance, noting that Were had cherished his children just as deeply as he had loved his wives.
“Live by the values Were taught you, and never abandon your children—he loved them just as dearly as he loved both of you.”
Her remarks echoed sentiments expressed by many speakers throughout the ceremony, who praised Were for being a family man who stood for dignity both in public service and at home.
Among the most prominent leaders who offered heartfelt tributes to the late MP was Suba North legislator Millie Odhiambo, who affirmed that she would not be swayed into harbouring resentment toward Were, despite the fiery online backlash he had faced.
Millie took a combative approach, noting that she would eulogise the MP the way she knew best.
“I have been fighting with my friends on Facebook who want me to give a narrative of Ong’ondo Were, as they know on Facebook. You all know that I am firm and I don’t care whether you like me or not. If you want to walk out of my Facebook, walk. I don’t care. I will speak the truth about the person I know, how I know. You could as well write about it as you know it,” Millie charged.
Stood with Wanga
The Suba North MP remarked that the late MP took the unprecedented position of standing firm with Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga in the previous election, even as other leaders cowered to declare their candidates of choice.
Millie equally observed that the late MP was a straightforward individual, who assured that he would never fight her politically and promised to support the initiatives she had in Suba North Constituency.
The vocal MP also noted that Were was a loyal leader of the ODM Party and a dependable individual in matters advancing the party’s interests.
The burial ceremony, attended by top ODM leaders including Raila Odinga and a host of MPs, was filled with moving gospel music, personal tributes, and waves of emotion.
But it was also peppered with light-hearted interludes like Marubu’s, which allowed mourners to smile even through their tears.
Charles Were, who was shot dead on April 30, 2025, in Nairobi, was laid to rest nine days later in his rural home.
