The recent killing of Kasipul Member of Parliament, Charles Ong’ondo Were, has brought back painful memories for a family in Meru.
Fifteen years ago, a young woman named Dotty Apondi disappeared after being promised a job by the late MP.
Her family still believes something bad happened to her — and that the MP knew the truth.
In November 2010, Dotty left her home feeling hopeful. She had told her family that MP Ong’ondo had promised to help her get a job at a hotel in Meru.
That was the last time her family saw her. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into years, but Dotty never came back.
Her family tried to report her missing to the police, but no action was taken.
Dotty’s sister, Nancy Adhiambo, said they were warned not to talk too much.
She believes the MP used threats to silence the family. Nancy still thinks Dotty was tricked and that the promise of a job was just a trap.
Dotty’s brother also shared his pain, saying they always believed something terrible happened to her, but they were too scared to keep pushing for answers.
Before becoming an MP, Ong’ondo Were was a businessman in Meru.
He owned a cleaning company and later moved into real estate. Some people say he was kind and gave many people jobs.
But others say he used fear to control people and had a dark side that many were too scared to talk about.
Now that he is gone, Dotty’s family hopes they can finally get justice. They want answers about what really happened in 2010.
They believe there may be other people who know the truth but were too afraid to speak while the MP was alive.
Police have not reopened the case, but the family is urging authorities to take a fresh look.
For them, Dotty’s disappearance is not just a memory — it is a wound that never healed.
By Nairobinews