Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Kaluma has hailed the National Police Service (NPS) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over what he described as their commitment to unmasking slain MP Charles Were’s killers. 

Issuing a statement via his official X account on Sunday, May 4, 2025, Kaluma expressed optimism over the commitment of the security agencies to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of the MP.

He, however, urged them to put more effort and regularly report progress to the nation. 

“I’m encouraged by the commitment shown by @NPSOfficial_KE and @DCI_Kenya towards unravelling the brutal killing of the Honourable Charles Ong’ondo Were. I ask them to put more effort and regularly report progress to the nation,” he said. 

Gladys Wanga speaks

The ODM MP’s comments comes hours after Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga called for speedy investigations in the brutal murder of Were. 

The  county head who was speaking at the home of the slain MP in Kachien on Saturday, May 3, 2025, equally dismissed what she described as attempts to portray the MP as a violent man. 

“Were was not elected by fluke. He was elected in 2017 and 2022. In 2022, he had over 42,000 votes, and his nearest competitor had 5000 votes. That is a man you want to tell us was ruling by terror. The disinformation that has flooded social media is not by coincidence. It is well-orchestrated, funded, and run to cover up the murder of Were. That is the truth,” she said. 

The firebrand governor also took a swipe at the Kenya Kwanza government over what she described as rising cases of political intolerance in the Nyanza region.

She made it clear that while the ODM party agreed to work with the Kenya Kwanza administration for national progress, they never agreed to targeted assassination of its members. 

“Who killed Kasipul MP Charles Were and why? That we want to know, and not in the far future; in the near future. We have said we are working together, but we did not sign up for the assassination of our members,” she said. 

The county chief went on to state that the increasing cases of political tensions in Nyanza were aimed at destabilizing ODM’s strongholds.

She further assured that as the ODM national chairman, she was ready to defend the party’s presence in the region, insisting that the Nyanza region is an ODM zone, and that attempts to dethrone the party will not be tolerated.

“As the national chairman of the ODM party, I also want to make it very clear that Homa Bay County and the entire Nyanza region is an ODM zone. The next time I see people in this region shouting ‘UDA’, we will not agree; we will not accept. It will not happen under my watch as the national chairman of the ODM party. If you want to dare us, bring it on,” Wanga stated. 

Wanga equally mourned Were as a devoted lawmaker committed to serving his Kasipul constituents without discrimination. 

“Ong’ondo Were was loved by his constituents. As a politician, not everybody can like you. But so long as the majority are with you and you’re serving your constituency fully it suffices. Were served every part of his constituency without discrimination,” Wanga said. 

“To the people of Kasipul, don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid. If the killers thought they would have it easy after his death, then they would have to kill us all now. I assure you, stay strong and remain united. I will be with you here,” she added.