Ong'ondo Were: Peter Kaluma Breaks Down, Recalls Heart-Wrenching Moment He Saw Slain MP’s Body
- MPs were overwhelmed with grief upon learning of Kasipul MP Ong’ondo Were's assassination, prompting an immediate adjournment of the National Assembly
- Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma shared that the news delivered a blow to Parliament, and the sight of the body riddled with gunshot wounds broke his heart
- He described the killing as highly professional, suggesting the assassin had government training and operated confidently in a heavily policed area
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Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features for digital and print media.
Homa Bay — Grief and disbelief continue to engulf political leaders and Members of Parliament (MPs) in the wake of the brutal assassination of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were.
Source: Youtube
The lawmaker was gunned down in a shocking incident on Wednesday, April 30, that has sent ripples across the country.
Several leaders, overcome with emotion, visited his family home in Kachien on Saturday, May 3, to console the bereaved relatives.
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Many broke down in tears as they recounted the harrowing moments before and after the fatal shooting.
Peter Kaluma sobs as he recounts Were's death
Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma recalled how the tragic news reached the National Assembly.
“The messenger arrived and stood at the dispatch box. As I was the speaker then, I became confused when other MPs rushed toward him. By then I did not know that the victim was Were. I adjourned the House in under 10 minutes. I left for Nairobi Hospital and found other MPs already there. The CID briefed me, and I insisted on seeing Were’s body.”
Kaluma described the chilling scene at the hospital.
“When I entered, I found his lifeless body covered. He had gunshot wounds—in the hands, two on the sides, one that reached the shoulder, and another lodged in his abdomen. It appeared the first shot hit him and as he tried to dive for cover, only to be shot again. The manner of death he suffered is not even fit for an animal,” he said.
According to Kaluma, the nature of Were’s death and his close relationship with ODM leader Raila Odinga suggested that the assassin may have intended to target Raila indirectly.
Kaluma recounted the emotional moment when Raila arrived at the hospital, and gently touched Were’s pulse, heart, and back in disbelief, before silently walking away without saying a word.
The MP raised concerns over the nature of the assassination, indicating it bore the hallmarks of a professionally executed hit.
Source: Youtube
Is Ong'ondo Were's killer linked to the government?
He noted that the assassin demonstrated advanced skill and confidence, trailing Were's vehicle through traffic heavily monitored by police, dismounting from a motorbike, and executing the attack with precision.
According to the MP, such an operation could only have been carried out by someone with insider knowledge and specialised training in the government.
Kaluma, visibly heartbroken, also revealed that National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula had appointed him to chair the burial committee.
The slain MP will be laid to rest on Friday, May 9, at his Kachien home. His body is scheduled to leave Nairobi on Thursday, May 8.
Describing Were, Kaluma said, “He was a man of peace-loving, transparent, and free of conflicts.”
Were's wife claims her life is in danger
In a new twist to the ongoing investigations, Margaret, the first wife of the slain MP, claimed her life is also in danger.
She revealed that she had previously escaped a planned attack by unknown individuals while heading to work.
Margaret condemned her husband’s killers and called for justice while acknowledging the difficult responsibility of now leading her family in his absence.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
