Wetang'ula Advises Ong'ondo Were’s Family to Ignore Online Hate: "Kenyans Have Become Heartless"
- Speaker Moses Wetang’ula led MPs in viewing slain MP Ong’ondo Were’s body and consoled his family ahead of the burial scheduled for Friday, May 9
- Wetang’ula urged the family to ignore unverified allegations circulating online, describing them as heartless and baseless
- Following Were’s death, several past accusations—including the disappearance of Dotty Apondi—have resurfaced, though none have been proven
Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features for digital and print media.
Nairobi - National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula had visited the family of slain Kasipul MP Ong’ondo Were ahead of his burial set for Friday, May 9.
Source: Facebook
The speaker, accompanied by fellow Members of Parliament, led an emotional viewing of the late MP’s body at Lee Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 6, offering comfort and solidarity to the grieving family.
While addressing the family at their Karen home, Wetang’ula dismissed the growing online allegations about the late MP, describing them as "heartless" and "callous."
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“As a family, you have lost. Don’t pay any attention to the films and nonsense on social media. Kenyans have become increasingly heartless, making it hard to describe their behaviour. Focus on staying united as a family,” Wetang’ula urged.
He assured the family of his continued support, adding that they were free to reach out to him for assistance in honouring Were’s legacy.
What allegations surfaced after the MP's death?
Following Were’s death, accusations surfaced online, casting a shadow over his legacy.
Among the most prominent is the longstanding claim by the family of Dotty Apondi, a woman who disappeared in 2010.
Source: Facebook
Citizen Digital reported that the family of Apondi alleged that Were lured the then-38-year-old to Meru with a promise of employment, only for her to go missing three weeks later.
Apondi's family's efforts to trace her whereabouts were reportedly met with threats and non-cooperation.
They allege that police were even threatened when they attempted to investigate Were’s Meru residence. The case remained unresolved, and Apondi’s mother, who was overcome with grief, passed away last year.
The MP’s name has also come up in other unproven claims. Bobby, a resident of Kasipul, accused Were of ordering an attack on him and his brother during a funeral gathering.
In a separate 2024 incident, Evans Okoda, a bouncer linked to one of Were’s political rivals and an ex-guard to former Nairobi governor Evans Kidero, was brutally murdered.
Although no evidence has linked Were to the crime, some locals speculated about his involvement.
Another widely circulated video showed a man being fatally attacked by a group of men at a hotel near Oyugis. Observers alleged the assailants were allies of Were, though no direct link to the MP has been established.
Gladys Wanga urges calm ahead of Ong'ondo Were's burial
Meanwhile, Homa Bay governor Gladys Wanga called for peace and restraint following the tragic killing of the Kasipul MP.
In a heartfelt message to the county, Wanga acknowledged the grief gripping the region, urging residents to remain calm and allow investigations to take their course.
She welcomed President William Ruto's directive to expedite the probe and applauded the progress made so far, expressing a hope that justice would be served.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
