Former Matungu Member of Parliament (MP) David Were is once again grappling with tragedy after losing his second son in a violent attack within four months, deepening the anguish of a family already reeling from an earlier loss.
Hannington Were, 39, a compliance officer with the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) in Kisumu, was attacked and killed on Saturday night by suspected criminals in the lakeside city.
The incident occurred near the Robert Ouko Estate area along Nyerere Road, where Hannington had reportedly gone with a friend to buy drinks after failing to secure boda boda transport late at night.
According to reports, the two were walking towards Mamba Club when they were accosted near Makini School by assailants believed to have been riding on a motorcycle.
The attackers allegedly hit the deceased with a blunt object on the head before stabbing him twice in the back leaving him with severe injuries.
His companion was also seriously injured during the attack.
The victims were rushed to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), where Hannington was pronounced dead on arrival due to excessive bleeding.
His friend remains admitted in critical condition.
The killing comes barely four months after the former MP lost another son, Philemon Were, who was killed in Nairobi in January in circumstances that remain unresolved.
A distraught David Were broke down as he spoke about the latest tragedy, questioning why his family continued to suffer violent attacks without justice being served.
Speaking at Kwee Funeral Home in Kisumu, the former legislator said the family was struggling to come to terms with the back-to-back losses.
“Hannington was a very private person and rarely moved around at night. I do not know what made him leave the house that night,” he said.
Were described his son as peaceful, hardworking and committed to his job, noting that he had no known disputes either at work or within the community.
The former MP also recalled surviving a separate attack in Kisumu in May 2023, saying no arrests had ever been made despite reporting the matter to authorities.
“I survived an attack myself and nothing happened. Now I have lost two sons within four months. We are asking security agencies to help this family get justice,” he said.
Police officers from Obunga Police Station visited the scene and launched investigations into the killing.
Detectives are yet to establish the motive behind the attack or whether the assailants robbed the victims before fleeing.
The incident has renewed concerns over rising insecurity in Kisumu, with residents citing increased cases of violent robberies and attacks in several estates.
Some residents blamed poor street lighting and the growing presence of criminal gangs operating at night, calling on security agencies to intensify patrols and restore safety in the city.
Dr. Robert Ouko Estate chairman Francis Odongo who was among the first responders at the scene, said residents were deeply disturbed by the brutal attack and blamed poor lighting and insecurity within the estate for exposing residents to danger.
“I am in the process of mobilizing a team of six from our estate to visit Kenya Power on Wednesday because the lighting system in this area must be redone seriously,” he said.
The chairman said he personally rushed to the scene during rescue efforts but found the attackers had already inflicted fatal injuries on the victim.
“Those thugs are very lethal. They are causing a lot of damage to humanity. Within no time, the young man had already been rendered helpless. It was a very sad situation,” he said.
He also raised concern over the state of fencing within parts of the estate which has left residents exposed.
The chairman called for urgent intervention by both security agencies and relevant authorities to improve safety measures and restore order within the estate.
By Chris Mahandara
