Ong'ondo Were's Close Friend Discloses Huge Burial Family Is Planning for Slain MP: "26 Cows"

• Charles Ong’ondo Were was shot on April 30 while returning from a parliamentary session and later pronounced dead at Nairobi Hospital
• The Kasipul MP’s body will be moved from Nairobi on Thursday, May 8, ahead of his burial at his Kachien home
• A close friend revealed that 26 cows have been secured for the burial, and up to 20,000 mourners are expected

Kenya is mourning the loss of one of its lawmakers who was fatally shot while returning from a parliamentary session.

Charles Ong’ondo Were was pronounced dead on April 30 after his driver and bodyguard, who were present during the shooting, rushed him to Nairobi Hospital.

His Kasipul constituents, along with leaders from both the opposition and government, have mourned his death and criticised the brutal manner in which he was killed.

Were’s heartbroken family has also called on the relevant authorities to apprehend the culprits and bring them to justice.

Read also

Ong'ondo Were: Kasipul mourns as crowds gather to receive slain MP's body

When is Charles Ong’ondo Were’s burial?

The parliamentary funeral committee, chaired by Homa Bay Town MP Peter Opondo Kaluma, announced that Were will be laid to rest on Friday, May 9.

His body is scheduled to leave Nairobi on Thursday, May 8, following a requiem mass held in his honour on Wednesday, May 7.

The late lawmaker will be buried at his home in Kachien village, Kasipul constituency, Homa Bay county.

Details of Ong'ondo Were's burial

One of Were’s close friends, speaking from his village home, shared the family’s plans to give the MP a dignified and memorable send-off.

The man expressed deep grief over the MP’s death, stating that their focus now is to lay him to rest peacefully.

“We pray the perpetrators are caught and taken to court so that justice can be served,” he said.

He revealed that the late MP’s body is expected to arrive at Kabunde Airstrip at around 11 am., after which the cortege will pass through Homa Bay Town en route to Kendu Bay.

Read also

Video shows Ong'ondo Were's grave exquisitely tiled and ready ahead of burial

Residents will be able to view the body at Agoro Sare Primary School, after which it will be taken to his home for a night vigil ahead of the burial.

The funeral mass and tributes will take place at Karabok Primary School field. He added that preparations for setting up the venue were in their final stages.

“There will be plenty of food for all guests and mourners. As we speak, we’ve already secured 26 cows to be killed as we remember a man who served his people diligently," he said.

The speaker, who was articulate and composed, also mentioned that they were expecting up to 20,000 guests to attend the funeral ceremony.

“The home is already full of people. We want to thank ODM party members and friends who have contributed, both in cash and kind, to ensure the day is a success and that Were is laid to rest with the honour he deserves,” he shared.

Read also

Ong'ondo Were: Simba Arati, family question silence of MP's allies during his fatal shooting

He also affirmed that everything is proceeding smoothly and peacefully, contrary to reports portraying the late MP as a violent man.

Senior govt official linked to Kasipul MP's murder

TUKO.co.ke reported that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is investigating a senior government official in connection with the murder.

Reports indicate that the official is linked to one of the suspects arrested in Nakuru.

Moreover, the lawmaker’s killers claimed they were paid a deposit of KSh 850,000, but have yet to reveal who hired them.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke