A marked man? Kasipul MP Charles Were shot dead weeks after warning his life was in danger

The late Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were had warned the public and security agencies that his life was in danger, weeks before he was shot dead in Nairobi.

In a series of videos that have now surfaced, the late legislator spoke openly about threats to his life, alleged plans by unknown individuals to eliminate him, and his repeated pleas for protection.

On the evening of Wednesday, April 30, 2025, Were was killed near the City Mortuary roundabout around 7:30 pm by two assailants on a motorcycle.

One of the attackers reportedly alighted and shot him at close range before fleeing.

The motive remains unknown, but the murder has sparked outrage and grief, as many reflect on the MP’s public warnings that now seem hauntingly prophetic.

In one of the videos taken during a public event in his constituency two months ago, the MP stood before a crowd and claimed that he was being followed.

He appealed to law enforcement for protection, saying some people were actively looking for a chance to kill him.

“In the two incidents, the security committee did not make any comment,” Were had said, after describing two attacks that occurred during funerals in Nyatindo East Kamagak Ward.

Outsiders causing unrest

He accused outsiders of causing unrest in Kasipul, adding that even funerals were no longer safe.

In one instance, the MP recounted how a road was blocked after a funeral he attended in God Nyango, leaving him stranded.

“After the funeral, the road was blocked and I could not pass, but luckily I had my security,” he said.

The following day, at another funeral in the same area, a man reportedly warned him against speaking, sparking anger among the villagers.

“One of the notorious criminals stated that I will not talk there, even before prayers. The villagers there were angered. What happened in the process is with investigative agencies,” he said.

In another chilling video recorded just two weeks ago, Were warned that a plan was being hatched to assassinate him during a funeral.

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“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 on my phone and another one under my pillow,” he told a crowd.

He further claimed that a meeting had taken place between an MCA and a group of individuals to plan how they would bring in people from Kisumu to create chaos at a funeral and then shoot him.

“A meeting was held last night at 8 pm somewhere with an MCA and some people, and the plan is to bring people from Kisumu to cause a fracas at a funeral so they can shoot me,” Were said.

His concerns didn’t end there.

During the 2024 Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kasipul, the MP walked out of the event after claiming that a junior officer was intimidating residents.

“A junior officer was here in the morning, intimidating people. There is no civil servant who can do without a politician,” he declared.

Escalating political tension

The MP’s fear of violence seemed rooted in escalating political tension within his constituency.

While he continued to serve his people, there had been claims linking him to incidents of violence in the area. Cases of assaults, disappearances, and deaths had been reported over the years, and some residents had previously accused him of fuelling political unrest.

However, in his final weeks, Were insisted that it was outsiders who were creating the turmoil and plotting against him.

Shortly after his murder, leaders who had interacted with him that day expressed shock and disbelief.

“I was with my colleague just this afternoon in Parliament, chatted, laughed, and he told me I need a conversation with you, ‘mambo si mazuri’. His exact words. Five hours later, he is no more. The news is shocking,” said Saboti MP Caleb Amisi.

Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo, Were’s sister-in-law, was among the first to speak after the fatal shooting.

“My brother-in-law was an excellent MP who never missed a session of Parliament. He had reported that his life was in danger. I want to say this in front of the cameras: the perpetrator of this murder is known. There is a kind of violence creeping into Homa Bay politics that needs to be tamed by the law enforcement agencies,” she said.

Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara said she had spent the entire afternoon with Were.

“We even had tea and spent the entire afternoon together speaking over an array of things. I left him at around 7 pm as he headed home, only to be called by my driver, who had communicated with his driver, informing me that my friend had been shot dead!... I am in total shock, I cannot find the right words to say,” she said.

Her statement was echoed by Homa Bay Woman Representative Joyce Atieno Bensuda, who also saw Were at Parliament that evening.

Condolences to family

“He was having a discussion with his colleagues. He was addressing the MPs who were listening to him. I send my condolences to the family,” she said.

National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed confirmed that Were had left Parliament about 30 minutes before the shooting.

“He was at Parliament the whole afternoon. I ask the police to investigate the matter thoroughly. I convey my condolences and those of the party (ODM) to Were's family. Our party leader (Raila Odinga) was here too and has since left,” he said.

National Assembly Speaker Wetang’ula has directed the Inspector General of Police to immediately investigate the Kasipul MP’s murder and submit the findings to Parliament without delay.

He also called for improved protection for leaders and all Kenyans.

“Further, the Inspector General of Police is required to enhance the security of all Kenyans, especially the security of our national leaders,” he said.

Until his death, Were was serving his second term in the National Assembly. He was first elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2022 on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket.