Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi on Saturday, May 3, 2025, revealed details of his conversation with President William Ruto following the murder of Kasipul Member of Parliament, the late Charles Ong’ondo Were.
While condemning the incident, Mbadi noted that he spoke with the head of state, who was equally concerned about what transpired.
Mbadi noted that the president wanted to understand the backstory. Annoyed by the gunning down of the MP in the city, Mbadi revealed that Ruto issued firm instructions to investigative agencies over tracking those behind the heinous attack.
“It is very sad that we are losing such a leader to the hands of criminals, whom I’m sure the arm of the law will catch up with them,” Mbadi stated.
“Yesterday I spoke with the president when he asked what is really all these. The president is really annoyed, and he has given firm instructions that the culprits must be brought to book,” he further explained.
The Treasury CS gave the murder a new twist by saying that it was likely a political assassination.
“This is likely to be a political assassination. I am not an investigator, but I have very strong feelings,” he insisted.
Preliminary reports from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) intimated that the lawmaker was shot four times by a gunman believed to have trailed his movement from Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).
When the vehicle stopped after the traffic lights turned red at 7:40 p.m., the assailant disembarked, went around the vehicle, and went straight to his target.
He fired four shots at close range, shattering the window and hitting the MP on the chest and hand. The killer ran towards the sports bike, and the rider took off, heading towards Nairobi CBD.
Surge in violence in Homa Bay
At the same time, CS Mbadi strongly condemned the surge of violence in Homa Bay County. The Treasury CS singled out Kasipul and Ndhiwa, where he maintained had experienced a sharp rise in machete attacks.
He lectured the leaders from the region, accusing them of being behind the surge in violence.
“There is violence taking root in Homa Bay and we must condemn it. It is not worth it. Don’t take the lives of our people because of a political seat. In Ndhiwa Constituency, people are attacking each other with pangas in the name of politicians,” Mbadi stated.
“To those politicians promoting violence in Homa Bay County, you must stop. You cannot force people to vote you into power or back to power. Please respect people’s choices, be democratic and persuade people to vote for you
“Ndhiwa is becoming a hotspot for violence, Kasipul must also be stopped. We will announce publicly that such politicians should not be associated with political parties we support. I cannot support a party where a leader in that party is behaving like a hooligan,” he added.