The late Kasipul Member of Parliament, Charles Ong’ondo Were, who was gunned down in cold blood on Wednesday will be laid to rest on Friday next week at his rural home in Homa Bay County.

According to Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, who is chairing the funeral planning committee, the fallen lawmaker’s body will be flown to Kabunde Airstrip on Thursday for a public viewing. “This will give residents an opportunity to pay their last respects to a man who dedicated his life to public service,” Kaluma stated.

A requiem mass will be held in Nairobi on Wednesday to honor Were’s legacy before the body is transported to his final resting place.

The late MP’s Karen residence has turned into a hive of activity, with leaders from across the political divide arriving to support the grieving family and help coordinate burial arrangements.

Were, a vocal Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) legislator, met his untimely death on Wednesday evening after unknown assailants shot him at the City Mortuary roundabout along Ngong Road. His death has shocked the nation and sparked calls for swift justice.

Detectives probing the murder say they are closing in on suspects. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday to shed more light on the circumstances of his death.

“We are making significant headway,” a senior officer from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said, hinting at imminent arrests.

Were’s death leaves a vacuum not only in Kasipul constituency but also in Parliament, where he was known for his firm stance on education, youth empowerment and development.

As the country mourns, all eyes now turn to Homa Bay, where the late legislator will be laid to rest amid high emotions and tight security.