Slain MP’s Death Linked to Rising Political Violence in Homa Bay

The assassination of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were comes just days after an attempted murder of his constituency’s youngest Member of County Assembly (MCA), raising questions about a pattern of political violence in Homa Bay County.

Vickins Bondo, the 28-year-old West Kasipul Ward MCA, survived an armed attack on April 26 in Nairobi’s Lucky Summer area, where he sustained head injuries. The incident, which was not reported to local police stations, occurred less than a week before Were was gunned down near the Nairobi Funeral Home roundabout on Wednesday evening.

Family sources have revealed that both men may have been targeted due to ongoing investigations.

Bondo has been pushing authorities to investigate the mysterious death of his father, Nicholas Aguk Oballa, a chief inspector of police who died in a reported hit-and-run incident on February 7 while working at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

“The probe into Oballa’s death has been taken over by the DCI’s Homicide Unit after traffic investigators failed to trace the vehicle that killed him,” a police source confirmed.

Were, who represented the same constituency where Bondo serves as MCA, had publicly warned about threats to his life earlier this year.

During a February function in Kasipul, Were made alarming statements that were later shared on social media.

“When you hear I have been killed, Kasipul will not be the same again. But I know they won’t kill me because I have the Bible in my phone and another one under my pillow,” Were said at the time.

Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo, Were’s sister-in-law, made explosive claims following his death.

“My brother-in-law was a stellar MP who never missed Parliament sessions. He had reported that his life was in danger. I want to say this with my eyes on the cameras, the perpetrator of this murder is known,” Gogo stated.

Family members have rejected assertions that Were had a violent reputation.

His brother, Paul Juma, stated that the MP had previously identified those threatening him but received no assistance.

“He did not get any help despite mentioning those who wanted to attack him. We are asking for justice for our kin,” said Juma.

Another brother, James Were, suggested possible government involvement in the killing.

“Some people in the government may have been involved,” he claimed without providing evidence.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched a comprehensive investigation, with officers from the Homicide Unit revisiting the murder scene on Thursday. They are retrieving CCTV footage from nearby buildings and traffic cameras while conducting forensic analysis of Were’s phone.

Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja confirmed through spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga that the nature of the crime “appears to be both targeted and predetermined,” while Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen stated that investigations are at an advanced stage.

As grief and shock grip Kachien Village in Kasipul, community elders have called the MP’s death a wake-up call for the region to address political violence. Were joins a grim list of Kenyan parliamentarians killed while in office, highlighting the sometimes deadly nature of the country’s politics.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​