Were’s funeral turns orange as mourners don party colours in accordance with his wish
The funeral of slain Kasipul-Kabondo MP Charles Ongondo Were, who was brutally assassinated on April 30, 2025, along Ngong Road in Nairobi, is currently underway in Kachien.
The atmosphere is heavy, not just with grief, but with a deep sense of respect and loyalty, as thousands of Homa Bay residents turned out in large numbers to pay their final respects.
It is a sea of orange, mourners have dressed in ODM party colors, honoring Were’s unwavering commitment to the party that sponsored him to Parliament for two terms.
It was not just a show of political loyalty, it was personal.
Ongondo’s wish
Just weeks before his tragic death, Were shared a wish that when his time came, he wanted an orange ODM cloth draped over his casket and buried with him.
He had referenced the burial of Raila Odinga’s aide, George Oduor, and hoped for the same farewell. Today, his wish is being fulfilled.
Images from the funeral paint a powerful picture: the casket, simple but dignified, lies wrapped in orange.
His immediate family is dressed in black, mourning quietly. Yet surrounding them is a crowd awash with ODM shirts, scarves, and caps.
Even those not in full party attire found ways to honor him—an orange armband here, a branded cap there.
The message is clear: Charles Were belonged to ODM, and ODM belonged to him.
Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ stood among the mourners, dressed in party attire with his name boldly printed across the fabric.
Other leaders sat silently in the front row, visibly moved. This was more than protocol—this was personal.
Sifuna’s direction
ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, speaking during a morning TV show, acknowledged that he usually avoids political colors at funerals.
But this, he said, was different.
“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,” he said.
“Nobody should be victimised for doing so; this is an ODM funeral.”
