Ong’ondo Were’s brother blames govt for MP’s death
The brother of the late Kasipul MP Ong’ondo Were has blamed the government for the death of the legislator, saying that some of the threats made on his life were taken lightly.
Speaking to a local TV station on Sunday, June 1, 2025, Paul Were blamed the local security officers for enabling attacks on the MP during funerals in the constituency.
“There is an incident that occurred in Kalando, where the MP was trapped inside a house with youth pelting him with stones. When the investigation report emerged, it stated that the MP was the aggressor, yet he was the one locked inside the house,” Paul said.
“So, that was a clear indication that these people were being protected from a certain quarter, and in that, we really blamed the government because it was very ugly.”
Paul, who is also the family spokesperson of the slain MP, also revealed that his brother’s death was linked to local politics in the area and the leadership of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party in Homa Bay County.
“I think there were people who were very much interested in the seat. As the family spokesperson, I can say with authority that my brother was killed because of the politics of Kasipul and that of the Homa Bay ODM chairmanship,” he stated.
The MP was buried at his Kachien home in Kasipul on May 9, 2025, in a ceremony attended by senior political leaders in the country.
Security concerns
During the funeral, ODM Party leader Raila Odinga revealed that the MP was a man with a target on his back and was at one point forced to abandon his car for Raila’s over security concerns.
“He actually knew what was going to happen to him. When we were celebrating the Piny Luo festival early this year, after the function was over, Ong’ondo came and jumped into my car and told me that some people were trailing him,” Raila said on May 9, 2025.
The MP was shot at close range by a gunman along Ngong Road at the City Mortuary roundabout on April 30, 2025, as he was heading to his Karen home.
His vehicle had stopped at a traffic red light along the road when a pillion passenger alighted from a sports bike, walked up to the co-driver’s seat and opened fire, killing the MP on the spot, according to police statements.
11 people have so far been arrested and questioned following the murder, which shook the nation and Homa Bay County.
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Arnold Ngure
General reporter with a bias for crime reporting, human interest stories and tech. Reach out via: [email protected]
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