Bomet politics boil over at the late Constable Leonard Korir’s funeral

<!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> A funeral at Aisaik village in Bomet central sub county almost came to an end after supporters of various political parties engaged in rowdy acts that prompted a pastor to conduct prayers to bring calm to the event.

Youth supporting area MP Mr. Ronald Tonui exchanged bitter words over supremacy in the region between Jubilee and Chama Cha Mashinani with that supporting area governor Isaac Ruto who was accompanied by Emmurua Dikirr MP Mr. Johana Ngeno.

The burial ceremony for the former police officer the late Constable Leonard Korir was destined to run smoothly until a former assistant minister Mrs. Beatrice Kones arrived at the burial ceremony and some youth welcomed her to her seat where VIPs were seated infuriating some youth from Chama Cha Mashinani party who could be heard chanting “this is not a Jubilee function” provoking the other youths to a contest of a war of words.

AGC’s Rev. Caleb Lang’at immediately conducted prayers to restore calm. He requested that the late Korir be interred first before speeches were delivered.

Bomet OCS Mr. Paul Karani delivered a message of condolence to the bereaved family from the Inspector General of Police Mr. Joseph Boinnet.

The deceased was the husband of the former deputy speaker of Bomet County Assembly Mrs. Joyce Korir.

The burial was attended by among others Bomet governor Isaac Ruto, Deputy speaker of the national Assembly Dr. Joyce Laboso, KANU secretary General Mr. Nick Salat, MPs Ronald Tonui (host), Cecilia Ng’etich, Johana Ngeno, former MPs Beatrice Kones and Raphael Kitur and a battery of members of the county Assemblies drawn from Bomet, Nakuru,Elgeyo Marakwet led by Speakers Geoffrey Korir (Bomet) and Albert Kochei of Elgeyo Marakwet county.

Leaders affiliated to KANU, Jubilee and Chama Cha Mashinani expressed their condolences to the family but were constantly interrupted by rival supporters who had to be admonished from time to time to respect the occasion.

Dr. Laboso was irked by shouts from the rowdy group to state where her spouse was and what message he had sent when she said the deputy president William Ruto and cabinet Secretary Cherles Keter had sent their condolence.

She warned leaders against hiring goons to functions and causing mayhem even where respect and tolerance was needed like in funerals.

“Even if the goons shouted at leaders reminding them of who they were married to it will not deter the electorate from choosing leaders of their own choice,” she said.

She angrily accused leaders of “shamefully” giving the youth drinks primarily to go and insult other leaders at a function to satisfy individual’s selfish ends.

The Sotik MP who will be vying for the Bomet gubernatorial seat in 2017 on Jubilee ticket also delivered condolences to the bereaved family from Bomet senator Prof. Wilfred Lesan, MPs Paul Bii, Sammy Koech and Bernard Bett.

Governor Ruto stayed clear of politics saying there was time for everything and the day was not meant for consoling the bereaved family and not politicking.

He affirmed his call for the national government to increase financial allocations to the counties to aid development projects. He also urged the government to employ more teachers to improve service delivery in the education sector and lessen the burden of parents employing PTA teachers

Emmurua Dikirr MP said the police played a major role in protecting the lives of Kenyans and their properties and hence the government should pay them good salaries and provide decent houses so that they can work in calm environment.

“Police should not be frustrated and instead be well remunerated as a motivating factor to deliver quality services while serving Kenyans.” He said.

The MP was interrupted by youths from the Jubilee side who were demanding that he showed them his wife because they have been aware all the time that he was unmarried man.

Bomet Central MP said, “Burials are not functions that warrant leaders to ferry goons to abuse others because these are occasions meant to condole the bereaved families and lessen for them the pain of losing their loved ones.”

Mr. Salat said he took to streets alongside CORD leaders to protest against some IEBC commissioners and that did not mean he had decamped to CORD.

“I will vie for Bomet senatorial seat in 2017 in a KANU ticket and I am still a strong member of the independence party and incase thing become tight for both Dr. Laboso and governor Ruto you are welcome home.” He said.

He noted that most new parties were fond of folding up after a short time and the only sure way of securing a political legacy was to join KANU.