Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has issued a scathing response following the brutal murder of Kasipul Member of Parliament (MP) Charles Were. 

Speaking at the home of MP Were in Kachien, on Saturday, May 3, 2025, the county head took issue with the 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. 

A furious Wanga went on to state that the increasing cases of political tensions in Nyanza are aimed at destabilizing ODM’s strongholds.

In a bold declaration, the county chief equally assured that 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. 

At the same time, Wanga dismissed what she described as attempts to portray the late MP as a violent man across social media platforms. 

“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 asserted.

The governor called for calm assuring Kasipul constituents that she will fight relentlessly to ensure that Were’s killers are caught and brought to book. 

“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,” Wanga said.

She also mourned the deceased as a man who was dearly loved by his constituents. 

“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,” she stated.