Kileleshwa Member of County Assembly Robert Alai has issued a scathing critique of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), urging the party to reflect on what he described as an entrenched culture of violence, silence, and political impunity.
His remarks come in the wake of the shocking murder of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were, who was gunned down in broad daylight along Ngong Road, less than 200 metres from the headquarters of elite police units such as the Special Crimes Prevention Unit (SCPU) and the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU).
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“We cannot build a democratic party by romanticising political violence or canonising individuals whose careers were steeped in fear and brutality,” Alai said. “Sir Charles’ murder is tragic, but it must not become a stage-managed beatification of impunity.”
Alai acknowledged the grief surrounding Were’s death but challenged the party’s response, accusing ODM of using the tragedy to silence dissent and impose dynastic succession. At the MP’s funeral, party leaders reportedly endorsed his son, Boyd Were, as the heir to the Kasipul parliamentary seat.
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“What happened at the funeral was not a celebration of life—it was the coronation of a new political prince,” Alai remarked. “Is ODM now a monarchy? Where is the democracy the party claims to champion?”
Alai further alleged that Were had a documented history of political violence. He referenced numerous complaints from constituents in Kasipul and Meru, citing enforced disappearances, beatings, and an atmosphere of fear.
“There are victims—some maimed, some dead—whose only offence was to challenge Sir Charles,” Alai said. “ODM cannot continue to ignore these stories just because the accused is politically connected.”
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Raila Odinga, ODM party leader, condemned Were’s murder, calling for swift justice.
“We cannot allow this kind of crime to take root in our country,” Raila said. “There must be a prompt and thorough investigation to bring those responsible to book.” He also urged Kenyans to remain calm while police carry out their work.
However, Alai warned that legitimate investigations must not become a pretext for political witch-hunts. He cited the recent arrest of Were’s political rival Philip Aroko and pressure on Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo and advisor Odoyo Owidi, both perceived to be outside the dominant ODM political circle.
“This is no longer about justice—it’s about settling scores and consolidating power,” Alai charged. “ODM should stop using funerals as platforms to persecute reformers and anoint new gatekeepers.”
Drawing historical parallels, Alai likened the political theater around Were’s death to the assassinations of Tom Mboya in 1969 and Dr. Robert Ouko in 1990, when political elites who had marginalised the victims in life later transformed their deaths into tools for political gain.
“We’ve seen this script before—the same people who undermined someone while alive become their loudest mourners,” he noted. “Death should not be used as a veil for political consolidation.”
He also urged President William Ruto not to bow to political pressure over PS Omollo’s position.
“If Ruto sacrifices Raymond Omollo to appease an elite that will never be satisfied, he’ll be repeating Moi’s mistake with Hezekiah Oyugi,” Alai warned. “You don’t secure reform by appeasing political cartels.”
In closing, Alai called on ODM to return to its founding ideals of democracy, justice, and reform.
“ODM was once a beacon of hope. Today, it risks becoming a sanctuary for silence and sycophancy,” he said. “Let the voters of Kasipul choose their leader freely, and let justice be blind—not selective.”
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) continues its probe into the murder, even as the political fallout reveals deep fractures within ODM and renewed calls for accountability in Kenya’s political culture.
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