Raila condoles with grieving Mathare MP Anthony Oluoch
By Luke Oluoch, September 24, 2025The Orange Democratic leader, Raila Odinga, has sent his condolences to Mathare MP Anthony Oluoch, who has lost his father, Mzee Charles Anthony Ondiek.
In the message on his Facebook Page on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Raila conveyed his sympathies and support to the grieving family.
He termed the demise as an incredibly painful occasion for the family.
“It is with great sorrow that I have learned of the passing of your beloved father, Mzee Charles Antony Ondiek, following a courageous 15-year battle with cancer. I know this is an incredibly painful loss to your family, and I pray that you find the strength and comfort to endure this heartbreaking time.
The former Prime Minister recalled working alongside Ondiek at the Kenya Bureau of Standards, stating that his demise is a huge loss to many people.
“I knew Mzee well, having worked with him at the Kenya Bureau of Standards in the 1970s, and Kanyakwar has indeed lost a towering pillar of the community, as has the greater Kisumu County.
“Please accept my deepest condolences, and kindly extend the same to your entire family, friends, and all those who were close to Mzee. May the Almighty God be with you during this difficult time, and may Mzee’s soul rest in eternal peace,” his statement continued.
Oluoch’s father’s death comes just weeks after Kimani Ichungw’ah, his majority leader in the National Assembly, also lost his father, Mzee Isaac Ichung’wa Ngugi.
Ngugi passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at his Kikuyu home, having lived a remarkable 105 years.
Mzee Isaac Ngugi was laid to rest on Monday, September 15, 2025, in a sombre event that saw leaders laud Ichungwah for taking after his father.
National Assembly leaders Aaron Cheruiyot and Junet Mohammed from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) lauded Ichungw’ah for being an honest and upfront leader.
“They say mzee used to speak his mind. For those who know Ichungw’ah, he says things as they are; there are no grey areas for him. He says black is black and white is white. This has often landed him in trouble. For him, if he likes something, he says it, and if he doesn’t, he also says it,” Cheruiyot stated.