Why Kasipul mourns, but also exhales after Were's death

 

The streets of Kasipul were silent. Not out of mourning, but out of something more complex—relief, fear, and a cautious curiosity. When news broke that the area Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were had been assassinated just outside the National Assembly gates, emotions erupted not with uniform grief, but with jarring contrast.

In many places across the country, the sudden death of a leader, especially one perceived as healthy, sparks outrage, and in cases of cold-blooded murder, public outcry for justice. But in Kasipul, the reaction was... different.

Some wept. Others danced.

To Were’s supporters and family, the late MP was a man of wit, bold speech, and unapologetic charisma. He made crowds laugh with his famously fractured Swahili, pulled in voters with fiery oratory, and stood tall in parliament as a vocal defender of his people.

For another section of constituents, his death has led to open celebrations and scathing criticism, where many accuse him of having ruled through fear, violence, and intimidation.

Now, the constituency stands divided between two narratives: that of a slain hero and that of a fallen strongman.

Relatives and allies insist he was a victim of political assassination, allegedly orchestrated by the state, but others within Kasipul see his demise as the end of a reign marked by terror and brutality. They claim he operated loyalists who silenced critics and violently dealt with political rivals.

Backed by a group of mean-looking, heavily built men and loyalists, the MP reportedly ran a terror network targeting political rivals and critics who dared to question his rule. They describe him as a serial long-term abuser who entrenched the culture of political violence in his constituency, spreading fear and havoc to perceived critics.

Several sources who spoke to The Standard, including victims who claim they were targeted by the controversial MP, claimed Were ran a dark underground network that unleashed violence in his constituency.

To them, Were’s legacy was to hire the unemployed to hurt and maim political opponents as he ruled with an iron fist and turned burials into avenues to settle political scores. In the process, he amassed several enemies along the way.

“He had entrenched violence in the constituency. He couldn’t tolerate opposition. Violence had become normalised here,” said a source who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals.

For some, Were’s death brought relief. Social media platforms were flooded with testimonies alleging years of abuse and terror under his watch.

Edward Okwanyo, still nursing head wounds, shared his ordeal with The Standard, describing how the MP’s allies attacked him during his brother’s funeral last Sunday.

“My late brother supported him, but I had stopped. The MP demanded control over the funeral arrangements. When I resisted, I received threats,” he said.

Okwanyo alleged that on the burial day, Were arrived with his supporters, sat briefly and demanded to be given a platform to speak. He then stirred up the crowd with inflammatory chants, inciting his goons towards his opponent.

Shortly after, a group of youths attacked Okwanyo with a metal object, forcing him to flee before being rescued by a boda boda rider. He was treated for deep wounds at Matata Hospital in Oyugis and is now recovering at home.

“I truly believe the MP intended to kill me. His men even insulted me and warned me that I would be under a curfew, forbidden from leaving my home,” he added.

He is not alone, Bill Ogaga, who claims to have been attacked by Were’s men on April 6, during his grandfather’s funeral, shared his harrowing experience.

He narrated to The Standard how the late MP and his men targeted and assaulted him, days after he had been threatened by his close circle.

“We were burying our grandfather when the MP and his men came and stormed the burial. He had disagreed with one of the MCAs and I did not know I was also going to be targeted,” he said.

Moments later, he claims, the MP’s men started chasing him and caught up with him and assaulted him. His brother Koffi Ogaga intervened and attempted to rescue him.

“I ran away. Unfortunately, my brother was hacked and left bleeding profusely,” he narrated.

A video of the two brothers crying while rushing to the hospital after the incident, lamenting about the continued violence in Kasipul has since gone viral on social media.

Another unnamed man told The Standard that the violence at funerals was always premeditated.

“The violence in the constituency was not a secret. The MP deployed violence to counter opponents. Authorities are aware of what has been happening in the constituency, but failed to act,” he says.

So bad is the situation in Kasipul that nearly all burial ceremonies have been turned into battlefields to settle scores.

In Were’s homestead, grief draped the air like a funeral cloth. His brothers—Dalmus, James, and Paul—stood before the press, accusing the state of orchestrating a calculated execution. According to them, Charles had foreseen this end. He had reported threats to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), naming names, revealing whispered plots allegedly hatched in the shadows of Homa Bay and Kisumu hotel lounges.

“Were told us that high-profile leaders had held meetings to plan his murder. One of the meetings was held in a hotel in Kendu Bay Town, while another one was held in a Kisumu hotel. The agenda of the meetings was to plan how he would be assassinated,” James said.

Paul added, “His security was compromised. This was a well-orchestrated plan involving government operatives and political rivals.”

They further suggested that political tensions within Homa Bay County and Kasipul constituency could have been a factor.

Paul said his brother mentioned the names of some people he suspected to be behind the assassination plans.

“Following the conversations we had with Were, his security had been compromised. I blame the government for his death because this is a crime that was planned well but no action was taken against it,” Paul told journalists.

Were’s eldest brother Dalmus Were told the government to accord the family justice.

“There is no way an innocent citizen and a leader can be killed like a hen. We want justice,” Dalmus said.

Two months ago, the MP told journalists that there were plans by some people to assassinate him.

Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang said they will push the government to bring the assassins to book.

“It is very sad and fortunate that the gangsters killed an honourable MP who was travelling on the road. We want the government to investigate this matter and apprehend the gangsters,” Kajwang’ said.

He argued that the incident exposed security gaps that should be bridged in the country. The Senator said it was peculiar to kill a leader.

“Killing an MP in the capital city is not a light crime. This incident has taught us a lesson that there are some security gaps, which should be sealed in this country,” Kajwang said.

The chairman of Were’s burial committee Joash Aloo, who is also the Homa Bay CECM for Trade, called for unity of leaders and residents to give Were a befitting send off.

“We have lost an icon in this society. Let us join hands and ensure his burial is successful,” Dr Aloo said.

Were was alleged to have been causing violence during the funeral services in Kasipul Constituency.  Several youths were injured in a funeral violence in the constituency.

Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency, Odoyo Owidi used to complain of the violence.

Businessman Okindo Majiwa, who also vied Kasipul parliamentary also complained of the violence.

Before Were’s death, Majiwa called on Homa Bay County Commissioner Moses Lilan to take legal action against politicians who were causing violence in Kasipul.

“Kasipul has been experiencing violence in funerals. I urge our county security committee to investigate the incidents and take legal action against politicians who cause the violence,” Majiwa said before Were’s death.

In his condolence message, Majiwa said Were’s death requires thorough investigations and legal action to prevent such deaths in future.

“The people who murdered Were should be punished accordingly to serve as a lesson to others,” Majiwa said. He called for peace in Kasipul.

But Were’s brother Dalmus defended him, saying he was being blamed falsely. “My brother loved peace, and his fellow politicians used to blame him for no apparent reason,” Dalmus said.

In his Facebook post, businessman Philip Aroko, a rival of Were ahead of the 2027 General Election, termed Were’s death a great loss.