Politicians disagree at burial of four as relatives mourn victims

Kangema MP Muturi Kigano with Father Ngatia of St Mary Catholic parish in Murang’a. [Boniface Gikandi/Standard]

The burial of four relatives who died in a road accident was disrupted by chaos following squabbles among politicians who had attended the ceremony in Nyakahura village, Kangema, Murang'a County.

Trouble started when Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro was addressing the crowd. Alex Mbote, a former councillor, shouted at Mr Nyoro, telling him to first apologise for disrespecting President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“Nyoro, you are not supposed to speak in public if you will not apologise to the president for insulting him," shouted Mbote.

Robert Rwigi, a resident, rose to restrain Mbote before chaos erupted at the dias where leaders, who included Senator Irungu Kang’ata, MPs Muturi Kigano and Sabina Chege, sat.

Nyoro was forced to cut short his speech and stood holding a microphone, with some youths around him.

Mbote’s wife was roughed up and escorted out of the venue.

Senator Kang’ata and Ms Chege left without addressing the mourners who had attended the burial of Duncan Kang’ethe, his wife Naomi Wangari, daughter Tecla Wairimu and nephew Michael Kamau.

Grace Muthoni, who also died in the accident, will be buried on Tuesday next week in Nyahururu, Nyandarua County, where she was married.

The five family members died two weeks ago in a road accident on the Machakos-Wote road. They were returning from visiting their in-laws in Makueni County.

Nyoro later apologised for the chaos: "It is unfortunate that this has happened at a burial ceremony."

Before inviting Nyoro to address the mourners, Kangema MP Muturi Kigano had earlier warned politicians against playing politics, urging them to join the family in mourning their departed loved ones.

“In Kangema, we don’t entertain baseless politics. Let us mourn with the family during this difficult moment,” said Kigano.