From mourning to mayhem: The ugly takeover of Kenyan funerals by politicians

Once a sacred space for grief and remembrance, funerals are now the theatre of political rivalries, chaos and violence (Photo: Getty Images, Bernard Lusigi/Standard) Funerals are fast turning into battlegrounds for political supremacy in Kenya. The solemnity of bidding farewell to the departed, giving the loved one a befitting and decent send-off, is replaced by chaos, insults, and even violence, as rival politicians seize the opportunity to flex their muscles. Traditionally, communal solidarity marked burials in Kenya, where friends, relatives, and well-wishers converged to offer condolences and pay their final respects. However, in recent months, a disturbing trend has emerged - funerals are no longer just a space for grief but a stage for political grandstanding, where decorum is discarded and rival factions engage in verbal and physical showdowns. This trend denies the bereaved families the chance to mourn and give their relatives befitting rites. Interestingly, the shenanigans are rarely witnessed in funerals involving the high and mighty in a society that has low opinion of the poor. High-profile burials are normally peaceful and solemn, with invited guests only being allowed to get near the grave in contrast to what happens at a funerals of ordinary people. There is no little room for mischief in funerals involving the rich and elected leaders who, however, have no qualms fighting or losing decorum when attending burial ceremonies of the hoi polloi as was witnessed on February 8 in Matungu when interment of former chief Agostino Odongo ended abruptly after violence erupted. Assured of a free platform and huge crowds, politicians troop to funerals of the lowly in society where they have no shame fighting, leaving the bereaved families embarrassed and in double pain. In their mind, some of the politicians feel they deserve the entitlement having contributed some money for the funeral arrangements. The politicians use the funerals to flex their muscles to the extent that some hire crowds to escort and cheer them at the venue while others enlist goons to fight or jeer rivals in their popularity contests that usually degenerate into violence. Such was the ugly scene at the home of Odongo in Chibanga village where mourners had turned up, as is the norm in the community, to pay their last respect to the former chief. Hell broke loose as soon as Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa arrived at the funeral. Accompanied by a huge crowd, officials from the county government, leaders and Isukuti dancers, their entry, was met by rowdy youths believed to be supporters of area MP Peter Nabulindo and Former Cabinet Secretary for Sports Rashid Echesa, who are at loggerheads with the county boss. The youth allied to Nabulindo and Echesa had arrived earlier and occupied the entire VIP tent including that of the family and church. They were allegedly instructed to block the Governor from attending the ceremony and addressing the mourners. As soon they spotted Barasa, they young men started chanting anti-Governor slogans. What followed was pandemonium. The rival camps threw chairs at each other and destroyed the hired tents and seats. In no time, the fully packed tents became empty as mourners scampered for safety. Left with no choice, the family hurriedly buried their relative without according him the necessary rites and prayers. Huge losses According to the family, the rowdy youth stormed the catering unit and stole food, utensils and other valuable items before fleeing when police officers intervened. Several people, including police officers, were injured in the fracas. Benita Wabuyabo, the widow, accused Nabulindo and Echesa of sponsoring the violence that denied her the opportunity to bury her husband in peace. "It is so sad that our MP and former CS, who are friends of this family and more importantly my late husband, would disrupt a moment meant to give him a decent send-off. "As a family, we were not given time to mourn. We have incurred huge losses because the youth stormed the catering section and stole food and other items and we are still calculating the cost of the damage so that those behind the chaos, especially leaders, can pay for the damages," she said. Disappointed by the turn of events, the family through Patrick Lutta, a son of the late chief, returned the contributions by the two leaders "since they were not given in good faith". Nabulindo had given the family a bull while the former CS had contributed Sh50,000. "To assist the family in preparation for the funeral, you had earlier sent the following: Peter Nabulindo had given out one bull and cash amounting to Sh10,000 and Rashid Echesa had contributed Sh50,000. It is now apparent that the said assistance was not extended to us in good faith but was a license to be given a prominent role at the ceremony and dance on the grave of your deceased uncle. It should be clear that no material gift can excuse such behaviour," read the family statement. According to the family, Odongo valued respect, peace and decency, and therefore the disruption of the burial ceremony had left the chief turning in his grave. "As a demonstration of our disapproval, we have returned the gifts you extended to us including all transaction charges thereon as annexed hereunder," said the family in the statement. Governor Barasa condemned the incident and questioned why such violence would erupt during a time of mourning. "It is absurd to see such incidents happening at a funeral when people are bereaved and paying their last respects to the departed. Funerals should be a time for reflection, not political fights," he wrote on his social media page. He accused Echesa of mobilising and paying youths to cause chaos at the funeral. On February 10, 2024, police summoned Barasa, Nabulindo, and Echesa to record statements about the chaos. Western Region Police Commander Kiprono Langat directed the three to appear before the offices of the regional Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kakamega to record statements about what happened during the burial. "We have launched a manhunt of the youth who caused chaos and so far, we have arrested two of them and we will continue with the operations until we arrest all those behind the mayhem. The chaos left our seven officers injured and they have been discharged after receiving treatment and we had 100 people sustaining injuries," said Langat. Vehicles damaged The incident came about two months after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was forced to flee from irate goons who stormed a funeral in Bibirioni village, Limuru, Kiambu County. The goons ferried in busses, uprooted the VIP tents, destroyed chairs and caused chaos leading to a stampede that abruptly ended the ceremony. Gachagua and his allies were forced to cower under a hail of projectiles as their vehicles were damaged by the gang. Mourners and relatives of the deceased were terrified by the turn of events. Gachagua would later accuse the government of sponsoring the attack alleging that it was an attempt on his life by the State. "Earlier this week the government withdrew the final aspects of my security that were in place after the impeachment process, which we are contesting. We did not raise an issue with this decision although expectations were that any Kenyan who has served at the level of government that I was privileged to serve at, would be secured by government even after leaving office," he said. While recounting what transpired at the funeral of Erastus Nduati, Gachagua said that goons specifically targeted him and descended on mourners with crude weapons, indiscriminately attacking women and children. "Today, I was at a funeral service in Limuru for a young man called Erastus Nduati. While we were preparing to lay the young man to rest, goons attacked us & the other mourners who were present, including children. The gangsters were armed with stones, machetes, iron bars & sticks," wrote on his X account. He added: "They descended randomly on mourners present and attacked them using the weapons they had. A specific group followed me as I went to my car, which they proceeded to attack with stones and iron bars. We literally drove out of the venue under a hail of rocks!" Gachagua expressed his dismay over the state of affairs, condemning the government's alleged role in the incident. "This is a very sad state of affairs and a major low for the State, who were clearly complicit in these actions. We just especially remember the family that had a loved one in a casket, who had to run to safety despite their profound grief," he said. A few weeks later Gachagua would skip a funeral service in Nakuru following the ugly scenes in Limuru. The former DP was set to attend the burial of his longtime friend James Mwaura who served as a District Commissioner in different parts of the country. Kasipul Constituency in Homa Bay County recently witnessed ugly scenes in funerals prompting area MP Charles Were to speak out on the matter. According to the lawmaker, the youth causing chaos in funerals were not residents of his constituency but outsiders affiliated with some politicians. The MP spoke at a funeral in Nyatindo where his supporters and those of his rival Philiph Aroko clashed. "Immediately I arrived at the funeral, before even prayers were offered, one man shouted that I should not be allowed to speak at the funeral, angering mourners as the burial ceremony turned into an ugly affair," said Were. Irate crowds Ironically, as politicians fight in funerals for the poor, they do not do the same when one of them is bereaved, except in isolated cases like what transpired recently in Bungoma County during the funeral service of Anne Nanyama, the mother of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula. At the funeral, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and National Assembly and Leader of Majority Kimani Ichung'wah clashed over abductions and gagging of state critics. Natembeya was booed by supporters allied to Wetang'ula though proceedings did not degenerate into chaos. Last year in March, supporters of Natembeya and Wetang'ula clashed during a burial ceremony of the wife of former Nominated MCA Phillip Nyongesa in Trans Nzoia County. Mourners had to flee as police lobbed teargas canisters to disperse irate crowds. The deceased, Sarah Nyongesa, had to be laid to rest hurriedly. It was the first the two leaders were sharing a podium as they had been tussling over who deserved to be the community's kingpin. Wetang'ula, in a statement after the fracas, called for peace adding that respect during burial ceremonies should be upheld. Kakamega County Church Interfaith chairperson Bishop Nicholas Olumasai is condemning the chaos witnessed in funerals and has threatened to bar politicians from addressing mourners in burials and making financial contributions towards the ceremonies. "Soon we are going ban politicians from addressing mourners in funeral services and we are going to return their contributions if such hooliganism is witnessed in burial events because it is against the dead who expect to be given a befitting send off," said Olumasai.

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