By Team
Tough questions were asked about who ordered and directed that contribution towards the burial of slain Kasipul MP Charles Ongondo Were by Homa Bay Deputy Governor Joseph Oyugi Magwanga, be returned to him.
Was the move by design to embrass Magwanga and Were political opponents or emerging political differences in Homa Bay County Government ?
In WhatsApp group that brought county government officials , politicians and stakeholders to fundraise for the Were was marked by intrigue and drama.
Magwanga sent his contribution of Sh 20,000 but was returned back to him without any accompanying statement .
Magwanga confirmed that his contribution was returned and did not understand the reason that formed the action.
“I sent my contribution to the Treasurer of the committee and I was shocked when they sent back my contribution .
That is cheap politics that have no place in the current dispensatiom.
Were was my Mp and he took over from me so I really don’t understand the agenda behind the action,” he said
Magwanga said he did not attend the funeral because of a plot by a section of some leaders who had mobilized to boo and heckle leaders
“ You don’t expect me to go to a funeral where your contribution has been returned to you
That was a warning in advance of how fluidly the situation was and my presence could have resulted into confrontation . I decided to apply wisdom by not going to the funeral
I knew of the plot, but I cannot fall cheaply into the stage-managed political violence.
That is why I didn’t attend the burial of my brother Charles,” he said.
Magwanga also demanded to be told who directed the return of his contribution and why.
Were was recently murdered in Nairobi by a criminal gang and several suspects have been since been arrested.
The suspects include his driver , body guard, a director at Lake Basin Development Authority Mr Dave Kalo and politicians Philip Aroko.
Were was a key ally of Governor Gladys Wanga and was instrumental in her election.
Were was the political checkmate of Wanga’s deputy Magwanga, who was prevailed upon by ODM leadership to support her candidature.
The governor and the deputy have been having a rat and mouse kind of relationship and already a split had started emerging in their political marriage .
With the death of Were, Wanga has been left exposed in the emerging political dynamic and alliances in the county .
Already, various political formations have emerged in the county that want to unseat her.
