Politician Narrates How Her Brother Died While Defending Orengo

Siaya County Woman Representative aspirant Achieng Masawa has spoken about the impact of political violence on her family, saying the death of her elder brother shaped her views on leadership and the role of young people in politics.

In a lengthy statement, Masawa recalled the death of her brother, John Radido Ondula, who was born in 1969 and died in 2000 at the age of 31.

She said his grave is among three belonging to her mother’s sons and remains a painful reminder of the dangers faced by youth involved in political confrontations.

Masawa argued that political leaders should stop exposing young people to hostile environments for personal gain.

“It is time we stopped exposing our young people to risky atmospheres for personal self-advancement,” she said.

According to Masawa, her brother was actively involved in Luo political movements during the 1990s.

She claimed he spent several months in Kamiti Maximum Prison after taking part in the 1997 Saba Saba protests.

She further stated that her brother was a loyal supporter of the man who is now Siaya Governor, James Orengo, and often found himself in violent confrontations while defending political interests.

Masawa said those experiences eventually contributed to her strong opposition to politics that place young supporters in harm’s way.

“I have never subscribed to the politics of misusing others for personal advancement,” she said.

Recalling the Ugunja Clashes

Masawa also reflected on the political tensions that followed the death of veteran opposition leader Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, when competition for influence in Luo politics intensified.

She described the 1999 clashes in Ugunja involving supporters of late Prime Minister Raila Odinga and James Orengo as one of the most difficult moments for her family.

At the time, she was still a young schoolgirl. She recalled watching her mother become distressed after receiving reports that her brother had been arrested and injured during the confrontations.

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“The events of the infamous Ugunja 1999 bloody confrontations between Baba and Gov. Jim are still very chilling to me,” she wrote.

Masawa said some details surrounding those events remain private out of respect for those involved.

“The events of the infamous Ugunja 1999 bloody confrontations between Baba and Gov. Jim are still very chilling to me. I was in class one, and I watched my mother in so much distress and anguish when she was alerted that John had been arrested, bleeding profusely as an aftermath of the bloody confrontations between Baba and Gov. Jim’s supporters, and John was definitely in the first line of defence because to him, that defined his loyalty to his boss,” she said.

Siaya County Woman Representative aspirant Achieng Masawa issued a statement narrating how her brother died while defending Governor James Orengo. PHOTO/ Masawa FB.

Another Tragic Political Incident in Siaya County

The aspiring Woman Representative also recounted another violent incident during the 2007 election period.

She said her mother joined a campaign team associated with the Orange movement and later received reports of an attack on Governor Orengo’s political team.

Masawa claimed that one of the campaigners, Martin Oluoch, died during the incident, while others, including her mother, narrowly escaped.

Despite the experience, she said her mother remained committed to the campaign and continued mobilising support for the Orange team.

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Call for a New Political Culture

Masawa dismissed suggestions that her criticism of confrontational politics is driven by personal political ambitions or a desire to secure party nominations.

Instead, she said her position is informed by personal experience and years of witnessing the consequences of political violence.

“It is time we focused on progressive politics,” she said.

Masawa called on leaders in the Luo community to embrace unity and work together to promote economic growth and development rather than engaging in political rivalries.

She said she hopes future leaders will prioritise economic emancipation and collective progress, arguing that competition for political dominance has done little to improve the lives of ordinary people.

“Post Jakom, I would like to see our leaders united intentionally and working collectively for economic emancipation and rapid robust development of our region,” she said.

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Achieng Masawa Shares Photos of Her Family
PHOTO/Masawa