The shockwaves from the brutal killing of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were continue to reverberate across the country, as political leaders regardless of party lines are now pressing authorities to go beyond the surface and unmask those truly behind the murder.
At a deeply emotional final requiem mass held at Karabok Primary School in Homa Bay County, national and local leaders spoke with one voice: the real masterminds of the assassination must be arrested. According to them, the individuals currently in custody are simply the executors not the brains behind the crime.
Leading the charge was National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, who minced no words in denouncing the killing as a politically motivated hit.
“We condemn the murder of Charles Were in the strongest terms possible. We urge the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to expedite the case and to do everything within their power to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice,” Wetang’ula said.
He continued, “This cowardly act must not go unpunished. Parliament has pieced together Were’s last moments, and we hope this aids investigators in delivering justice. Political violence, whether against leaders or ordinary citizens, must end.”
Wetang’ula emphasized that justice for Were would not only bring peace to his grieving family and constituents, but could also mark a turning point in the country’s fight against politically driven violence. “It’s time to preach peace as we await the outcome of the investigations,” he added.
ODM Party leader Raila Odinga echoed the Speaker’s sentiments, insisting that the real architects of the killing remain untouched by law enforcement. While he acknowledged the efforts of police so far, he made it clear that justice is far from being served.
“While we appreciate the work done by the police so far, as the ODM Party, we want to state that the individuals arrested are just agents. We want the real architects of this heinous act arrested they are known,” Odinga declared.
Odinga also issued a strong warning to those attempting to smear the late MP’s name online, suggesting that such actions could be part of a wider scheme linked to his murder.
As the nation mourns, calls for truth and accountability grow louder. What remains to be seen is whether the ongoing investigations will lead to the arrest and prosecution of not just the hired hands but those who gave the orders.
