The National Assembly during a past session. (Inset) Slain Kasipul MP Charles Ong'ondo Were.
Many of his colleagues simply referred to him as “Sir Charles”, both in the corridors of Parliament and even during committee meetings.
His colleagues recounted how he was important to them and the memories they cherished together in the course of their legislative work.
Mandera West MP Adan Haji.
Mandera West MP Adan Haji, who is also the chairman of the National Cohesion and Equal Opportunities Committee where Mr Were served as his vice albeit for a short stint, described the late lawmaker as an elegant, brave and highly knowledgeable legislator.
“His contribution to the committee proceedings has been above board. He was the icon and facilitator of the committee activities. We shall miss him so much,” Mr Haji told the Nation.
Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu said the late lawmaker was his training mate at the Parliament gym located in Bunge Towers.
Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu
“We used to train together at the gym every day from 6am to 7am, I have lost my training mate. It is really sad,” Dr Mulu said.
Dr Mulu said Mr Were never missed the gym session and he would find him there every day. That's when they developed a good relationship and started training together.
“It’s sad for me. I have heard of other things but those don’t matter to me as he was a good man for the period I have known him,” Mr Mulu said.
Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki, who served with Mr Were in the environment and natural resources committee in the 12th Parliament, described him as a calm and sociable person who never missed committee meetings.
“We used to refer to him as Sir Charles in our committee. He was very resourceful to us and during meetings he was able to articulate sector issues with ease,” Mr Mbiuki said.
Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki.
Mr Mbiuki added that in all meetings with various environmental agencies Mr Were always ensured that the people of his constituency get their fair share of the resources available.
“He was always the first member to arrive for committee meetings. His dedication was noticed and that is why his party chose him as the vice chairman of the Cohesion committee. It’s unfortunate that we have lost him in such a manner,” Mr Mbiuki said.
The Kasipul lawmaker was not a pushover when dealing with witnesses appearing on committees.
Just last month when the Cohesion Committee was meeting with various institutions to check compliance with the constitution as far as employment diversity is concerned, Mr Were clashed with the National Police Service Commission CEO who was not forthcoming with the requisite information.
“We need the ethnic composition of the people you have employed in the last one year. That is not a request, it’s a constitutional obligation that this committee has been given,” Mr Were fired at the commission CEO
Mr Were, who was the chair, ended the meeting saying they would not continue until the commission complied with their demands.
The commission had protested that there is no requirement in law where they are expected to reveal the identities of the people they have employed.
