Kasipul MP Ong’ondo Were was gunned down on April 30 at
around 7:30 p.m. at the City Mortuary Roundabout along Ngong Road.
Leaders said they were with him in Parliament the whole afternoon before he met his tragic death.
"He left barely 30 minutes before he met his death. We would like to ask the police to investigate this matter thoroughly and share with Kenyans as fast as possible what happened to Hon Were," Leader of Majority Junet Mohamed said.
"Were was in parliament the better part of the day and left at 6:15 pm after participating in the business of of the day. While we join his constituents, the people of the great county of Homabay, his family, colleagues and friends in mourning, we call on the police to investigate the shooting incident and bring the culprits to book," ODM Party tweeted.
The late MP's death came just weeks after telling his constituents that certain people wanted him dead and had been following him.
“If I die, please drape me in the ODM colours,” the MP said during a recent funeral in Kasipul.
Who was Were?
Were, soft-spoken and humorous lawmaker was born in the Oyugis area of Kasipul constituency in Homa Bay County.
He began his education at Kanabok Primary School, attending from 1976 to 1982, before enrolling at Oyugis Secondary School, where he completed his secondary studies in 1986.
In 2012, he pursued a certificate course at Meru University, which he completed the following year.
He then joined Mt. Kenya University in 2013 to study for a diploma in Business Management, completing it in 2014.
Determined to advance his education, he went on to earn a degree in Business Management at the same university between 2015 and 2017.
After a year-long academic break, he resumed his studies at Mt. Kenya University in 2019, enrolling in a master’s degree program in Procurement and Supplies.
Were held executive roles in several companies, a career path that appeared to lay the groundwork for his entry into politics.
Between 2003 and 2022, he served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Victoria Cleaning Services. He also led Metrookam Properties Limited as CEO from 2006 to 2012, and from 2014 until 2022, he headed Benga Group Holding Limited.
His political career began in 2017 when he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Kasipul constituency.
He secured re-election in 2022 on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket.
During his time in Parliament, he served on the Departmental Committee on Blue Economy and Irrigation.
He appears to have stepped away from his corporate leadership roles after his re-election in 2022.
Were was an accomplished businessman in the country.
His death
The National Police Service said the fatal shooting of Ong’ondo Were appears to have been both “targeted and predetermined,” raising alarm over the motive behind the brazen attack on a sitting legislator.
In a statement released by police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga, the NPS confirmed that the MP was shot dead on Wednesday evening along Ngong Road near the City Mortuary roundabout by a gunman.
Muchiri said reports confirmed by the Nairobi Regional Police Commander were that, at around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, a white Toyota Crown vehicle came to a stop at a red traffic light on Ngong Road, near the City Mortuary roundabout.
Police said, according to eyewitnesses, a motorcycle carrying a rider and a pillion passenger stopped alongside the car.
“The pillion passenger approached the vehicle and fired shots at the passenger side before jumping back onto the motorcycle and speeding away,” police said.
The driver of the car and a male passenger, both unhurt, managed to rush the injured MP to Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
“The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and predetermined,” the police spokesman added.
Muchiri said senior police commanders and detectives visited the scene and are piecing together the circumstances surrounding the death.
