Chelagat buried as Koigi Wamwere faults President Uhuru Kenyatta's role

By LUKE ANAMI AND PETER OCHIENG’

The first Nandi female MP Philomena Chelagat Mutai was yesterday buried at her home in Lessos, Nandi County. However, the top political brass shunned the event.

Top CORD leaders, including former Prime Minister Raila Odinga who took her to hospital last year and Jubilee counterparts failed to turn up for the burial presided over by Eldoret Catholic Bishop Cornelius Korir.

However, his former colleague in Parliament Koigi Wamwere faulted the Uhuru Kenyatta Government for failing to grant her a State funeral.

“There is one thing that is missing. Chelagat Mutai deserved a State funeral. I have attended State funerals and seen those who did not deserve being granted State funerals,” Wamwere said.

“I know I am not in the Government. But if God allows me to be President of this country, I will grant her a State funeral,” he said much to the amusement of the mourners who turned up to give her a heroine’s send-off. Koigi became an MP in 1978 when Mutai was bouncing back to Parliament for a second term. Before that, Mutai had been jailed for two and half years in 1976 over incitement charge.

Those who turned up heaped praise on her role as a fiery MP who stood for the rights of others.