PHOTOS: Convoy of school buses escort Charles Were’s body on final journey home
The funeral procession of the late Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were today left Kabunde Airstrip heading to his rural home, with thousands of residents turning up to pay their last respects.
Leading the convoy was a high-end Range Rover hearse, followed by a long line of vehicles.
However, what stood out most were the numerous school buses that formed part of the procession.
The buses painted the whole procession yellow, a signature color reserved for primary and secondary school transport systems; the buses were filled with supporters and constituents of the late MP.
The large number of school buses reflected the MP’s commitment to education during his time in office.
Many believe he used part of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to buy school buses and construct schools, making education a key part of his legacy in Kasipul, seemingly forcing school heads to release their buses, to be part of the procession.
Aerial images of the procession showed a sea of yellow dominating the roads, overtaking the traditional orange colour of ODM, the party that sponsored him to parliament for two terms.
The striking visuals left a strong impression and will remain etched in the memories of many.
The procession from Kabunde made a stopover in Homa Bay Town, the county headquarters.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga noted the significance of the stop, saying the town was a place the MP frequently visited throughout his political career.
“Stopover at Homa Bay Town Center. A last visit by Hon. Charles Ong’ondo Were to the county headquarters, which he frequented in his political life,” Wanga posted on her Facebook page.
Despite the colourful and emotional procession, grief was clearly written on the faces of those in attendance.
The MP’s family, who received the body at the airstrip, broke down in tears, struggling to come to terms with the brutal loss.
His assassination
MP Charles Ong’ondo Were was assassinated on April 30, 2025, near the City Mortuary roundabout in Nairobi.
He was shot five times by unknown assailants while his vehicle was stopped in traffic. His bodyguard and driver, who were not harmed, have since been arrested and are now key suspects in the ongoing DCI investigation.
