Stop turning funerals into political rallies, says Governor Oparanya

Governor Wycliffe Oparanya (right) with Commissioner Kassim Hassan at Bukhungu Stadium yesterday. [PHOTO: Benjamin Sakwa/STANDARD]

Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has asked politicians to stop turning funerals into political rallies and instead organise their own political meetings.

Mr Oparanya said leaders who attack others at funerals must stop the trend. “Kenyan politics has matured and as politicians, we should not get back to the old ways,” Oparanya said.

Speaking during Madaraka Day celebrations at Bukhungu Stadium, the governor said people cannot clinch presidency if they use funerals for campaigning in Kakamega alone.

“As leaders, we should stop lying to citizens. Vying for presidency in 2017 is a waste of time but focus on strategising for 2022. It is the responsibility of citizens to ensure they participate fully in choosing leaders,” he said.

“Many young people are unregistered both as citizens and voters. Recent projections by the polls agency indicate that over 10 million Kenyans are unregistered and 400,000 people are from Kakamega. Many of them do not have identity cards that will enable them register as voters,” said Oparanya.

Oparanya said people should stop complaining about bad governance while they are doing little to ensure they get identity and voters’ cards.

But Senator Boni Khalwale said he is not going to stop addressing residents in funerals. "I use funerals and rallies to reach out to people on development issues," he said.