IN SHORT: Just days after Kenyan legislator Charles Ong'ondo Were was murdered, a graphic has surfaced online claiming he was romantically involved with governor Gladys Wanga. However, it is fabricated.
Slain Kenyan lawmaker Charles Ong'ondo Were and Gladys Wanga, the governor of Homa Bay county, were secret lovers. This is according to a graphic going viral on social media in Kenya.
The graphic reads:
Governor Gladys Wanga has defended the late Kasipul MP Charles Ong'ondo Were, claiming he feared for his life before his death. But insiders reveal the two were secret lovers, a detail that's raising new questions. Critics now say Wanga's emotional stance may be more personal than political, with whispers of her role as a home wrecker surfacing amid the chaos.
It includes the logo, SMS number and web address of the Standard, an online platform of a Kenyan newspaper with national reach, implying that they published it.
Were was killed by gunmen on 30 April 2025 in Nairobi in what police said was a "targeted and premeditated" attack.
He was a member of parliament for Kasipul constituency in Homa Bay county, about 370 kilometres south-west of Nairobi.
Police have since arrested four suspects for his killing and arraigned them in court. He will be buried on 9 May.
Wanga is among the leaders who have mourned the lawmaker, calling for a speedy investigation and arrest of the perpetrators. She has been seen in public weeping over the loss.
The graphic has been posted here, here and here.
But is it legit? We checked.
Fabricated graphic
Africa Check noted that the graphic originated from an imposter Facebook page called Daily Standard. The page is known for altering genuine front pages of the Standard newspaper, which suggest the circulating graphic may have been fabricated.
The Standard usually posts its graphics on its verified social media accounts, including Facebook and X. We searched for the graphic in question in the accounts and came up empty.
The graphic in circulation is fake and should be ignored.
