Boyd Were endorsed by Farouk Kibet as ODM candidate in Kasipul race
By Luke Oluoch, September 6, 2025President William Ruto’s aide, Farouk Kibet, has endorsed Boyd Were, son of the late Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were, as the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate for the upcoming Kasipul parliamentary by-election.
The endorsement was made during a fund-drive function at the Ogande Girls Library, Research, Innovation and Resource Centre in Homabay County, on Friday, September 5, 2025.
Kibet sang praises of the budding politician, terming him a capable and deserving candidate for the Kasipul parliamentary seat.
He emphasised the young politician’s suitability to serve the constituency and highlighted the importance of supporting the ODM candidate, calling on residents and party supporters to rally behind him.
Capable
“People here in Homabay say this young man is enough or not enough. He is enough to get the seat there. Let him continue. Where are the ululations of this young man? And the party is ODM. Isn’t it? Let us all say we are all ODM. Let him continue. Thank you,” he said.
Were, who was among the attendees in the function led by the spouse of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Leader Raila Odinga, Ida Odinga, and Governor Gladys Wanga, emphasised the commitment of his community to contributing to broad-based governance.
“First of all, let me thank our mother, Mama Idah Odinga, for these programs to help our girls. Mama has always led us well. To our Governor, Mama Gladys Wanga, thank you for always proving that devolution always works. I have brought greetings from Kasipul. And the people of Kasipul have told me to tell our honoured guests that after here in Homabay, I should invite them to Kasipul to bring us the fruits of broad-based government. And they have said they are fully supportive,” he said.
The Kasipul parliamentary seat became vacant following the assassination of Charles Ong’ondo Were on April 30, 2025, along Ngong Road in Nairobi.
After declaring interest in succeeding his father and retaining the seat in the family, Were has been a recipient of endorsement from several quarters.
Hilary Nyiganet Arap Kosgei, a member of parliament for the Kipkelion West constituency, pledged with Raila Odinga to endorse the young man for the seat.
Endorsements for Were
“Your Excellency, as a family we request, you know those killing want the position; we want to shame them and show that even after the killing, they will not get the seat. Baba (Raila), we ask you to endorse one of Were’s kids to finish his work,” Kosgei stated.
His sentiments were echoed by Lamu County Women Representative Muthoni Murabu, who also implored Raila to pick a successor from Were’s family.
Muthoni further claimed she was single and offered to take Were’s son on a familiarisation tour if successfully elected into parliament.
“Mimi Were alikuwa amenionyesha akona vijana wawili ambao ni karibi rika yangu. Baba unaona unaona mkono yangu sijaweka pete,” Muthoni stated.
“Baba ukituma kijana ya Were bunge, mi mwenyewe Muthoni nitaonyesha yeye,” she insisted amid wild cheers from the mourners.
Which loosely translates to: “Were had shown me that he has two sons who are almost my age. Baba (Raila), you see I don’t have a ring on my finger,” Muthoni stated.
“Baba if you send his son to parliament, I will show him around,” she stated amid wild cheers from the mourners.