ODM leaders have threatened to walk out of the broad-based government if the State fails to arrest and prosecute the killers of slain Kasipul MP Ong’ondo Were.
Were was killed by an unknown gunman who shot him severally on Nairobi city’s Ngong road on Wednesday evening.
His death has elicited tension in Kasipul Constituency, Homa Bay County.
But the death is now threatening the sustainability of the broad-based government signed by President William Ruto and ODM Leader Raila Odinga.
On Saturday evening, a group of ODM leaders visited Were’s home for a fundraiser in aid of Were’s burial expenses.
The leaders led by ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga, the National Assembly Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo and Homa Bay Town Peter Kaluma have threatened to walk out of the broad based government if the State fails to handle the matter with due diligence.
Wanga said the MoU on the broad based government between ODM and the Kenya Kwanza Government was not based on assassination. Thus, the government must handle the inquest on Were’s murder with utmost seriousness.
She said MoU was based on improving lives of Kenyans, not harming them.
“Let it be known that we did not sign an MoU for assassination. The MoU was meant to improve the lives of Kenyans,” Wanga said.
Wanga expressed concern that Were had reported to police that his life was in danger but no action was taken.
She challenged the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to tell Kenyans the actions he took after Were reported the threats he was facing.
She said Kanja must tell Kenyans who killed Were.
“I want the Inspector General of Police to tell us what he did when Were wrote to him that his life was in danger. Then, he has to tell us who killed Were,” Wanga said.
She said Were’s death was meant to weaken her party leader Raila Odinga, ODM party and herself as a close friend of Were.
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“Someone who wants to kill you first kills your bodyguard then accesses you. This murder sends a red signal to us,” Wanga said.
Millie said the broad based government arrangement will not deter them from telling the truth about Were’s death.
“Were’s death is so sad that we must tell the truth. We will not be cowed by the broad based government arrangement and if anybody wants to silence us, we will not be moved. In fact, let them remove me from the broad based government but I will not be silenced,” Millie said.
She said Were was killed by a shooter who knew how the government works.
“The person who killed Were was very conversant with government systems. His methods of shooting and the manner he shot tell us a lot. They must tell us why who killed him,” Millie said.
She questioned the social media posts which have been going viral to demonize Were immediately after Were’s death on Wednesday. Millie argued that the people who were posting social media posts might have been sponsored to cover up the planners of the assassination.
“What is surprising is that there were many social media posts demonising Were after his death. These posts shows Were’s death was planned by some people,” Millie said.
Kaluma the future of their collaboration in the broad based government will depend on how the government is going to handle Were’s death.
“I want to join my fellow leaders who have spoken that unraveling the people who killed Were and those who sent them will determine whether our collaboration in the broad based government will continue or not,” Kaluma said.
He said the government had the capacity of arresting Were’s killers and prosecuting them.
“The government has long hands in dealing with criminals. We want to see the long hands of the government working in unraveling Were’s killers. Let us not see the short hands of the government in this matter,” Kaluma said.
Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang said they are not going to allow anybody to joke around with investigations into Were’s death.
“We lost a gallant leader in a very unfortunate murder. Let our investigations agencies take this matter seriously and we will not relent to give them pressure,” Kajwang’ said.
The National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohammed, Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara and Homa Bay Woman rep Joyce Osogo called for justice.
The leaders said justice must prevail for Were’s family.
