Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga, on the evening of Tuesday, May 6, 2025, paid a condolence visit to the family of slain Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were in Nairobi.
ODM, in a statement shared via their official X account on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, revealed that during the visit, Raila had described the slain lawmaker as a courageous and honest leader who served his people with dedication.
”Last evening PL @RailaOdinga visited the home of the MP for Kasipul, the late Hon. Ong’ondo Were, to condole with the family following his brutal murder in Nairobi. He described the slain legislator as a courageous and honest leader who served his people with dedication,” ODM stated.
Raila was accompanied by some of his close allies, including Homa Bay County Governor Gladys Wanga and Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma.
MPs visit Were’s family
Raila’s visit to the Ong’ondo Were’s family comes hours after MPs led by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula went to the home to pay their last respects to their slain colleague.
Speaking at the late MP’s Karen home in Nairobi, Wetang’ula encouraged the lawmakers to beef up their security, noting that whatever happened to Were could befall any leader.
“I encourage all of you members that what has happened to Ong’ondo Were can happen to any one of you. So, tighten your security and be conscious of your security,” Wetang’ula challenged the leaders.
The speaker, however, advised the leaders not to fear living or living in fear, noting that MPs are disliked by most Kenyans.
“Don’t fear to live, and also don’t live in fear, but be careful as you go around, because as members of Parliament, very few people like you,” Wetang’ula stated.
“For strange reasons, people who want to come to parliament don’t like people who are in parliament. That, however, should not deter you from working to make Kenya greater, safer and prosperous.”
Ong’ondo Were’s death
The late Were was shot dead while stuck at a traffic stop at the roundabout near the Nairobi Funeral Home, formerly known as City Mortuary, on April 30, 2025.
Preliminary analysis indicated that a man riding the pillion of a sports bike had disembarked, walked to the co-driver’s side of the saloon car the MP was travelling in, and shot him at close range.
The assailant then left the crime scene in the company of the motorcycle rider and headed back to the Nairobi CBD before getting into a car and speeding off.
A postmortem report by government pathologist Johansen Oduor on Monday, May 5, 2025, indicated that the late MP died from bullet wounds, which ruptured his heart, lungs and blood vessels.
Police have since arrested at least four suspects, including a police officer, in connection with the incident that happened along Ngong Road on April 30, 2025.
