PHOTOS: Wetang’ula leads MPs in honouring late Ong’ondo at requiem mass
Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula, on Friday, May 9, 2025, led a delegation of Members of Parliament and national leaders in paying their last respects to the late Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were during a requiem mass held at Karabok Primary School grounds in Homa Bay County.
The ongoing ceremony has drawn national leaders, dignitaries, family, friends, and constituents who have gathered to honour and pay their final respects to the late legislator.
Some of the leaders in attendance wore ODM regalia, honouring the late Ong’ondo Were’s wish to be celebrated in the party’s colours.
While speaking during the burial of Raila Odinga’s long-time aide, a few weeks before his assassination, the MP had expressed a desire to be buried in ODM colours and his coffin be covered with the party’s flag, just like Raila’s bodyguard.
“Atamimi sikuile nitapumuzika, naomba watu wa ODM nyinyi muniweke hii bendera na nyinyi mukuje kwa fujo,” he said.
ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna on Thursday, May 8, 2025, while speaking during an interview at a local TV station, stated that members of ODM who will attend the funeral in party attire should not be condemned or victimised, as they are simply fulfilling the wish of their departed colleague.
“I am averse to attending burials wearing political colours, but you’ll forgive us since it was MP Charles Were’s wish to be buried in ODM colours,” Sifuna said.
Funeral expenses
Wetang’ula, during his visit to the late legislator’s home in Karen on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, confirmed that the government will cater for the MP’s burial expenses.
“We will be responsible for mortuary fees, buying the coffin, transporting the body, and airlifting the family to Homa-Bay’s Kabunde Airstrip to allow you to get home in preparation for the Friday event,” Wetang’ula disclosed.
The late MP was shot dead by a pillion passenger of a sports bike, who disembarked, went around the co-driver’s seat and opened fire before fleeing the scene on April 30, 2025, along Ngong Road.
Postmortem results revealed that Were was killed by five bullets which pierced through and ruptured his vital organs, including the heart, lungs and blood vessels. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the nearby Nairobi Hospital.
His bodyguard and driver, who were in the vehicle at the time of the shooting, have since been arrested in connection with the death, making the total of those arrested in connection with the death rise to 10.
