A funeral in Mayoni Ward, Kakamega County, turned chaotic on Saturday after rival political groups clashed, leaving the grieving family in distress.
The funeral, meant to honor a local administrative officer, was disrupted when supporters of Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa and former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa confronted each other, forcing the family to rush the burial.
The violence left several people injured, including a police officer who was seen bleeding after attempting to restore order.
Security personnel struggled to contain the situation as mourners fled in fear. Chairs were hurled across the gathering, further escalating the turmoil.
Amidst the commotion, one man was caught carrying two knives. Upon his arrest, he admitted to stabbing two people during the altercation and pleaded for forgiveness.
A representative of the bereaved family condemned the violence, urging politicians to respect mourning families instead of bringing chaos to funerals.
The widow of the deceased also lamented that she did not get a proper chance to mourn her husband.
She revealed that she was only given two minutes to speak, and her children, 15 in total, were unable to say their final words due to the disturbances.
The situation reportedly worsened upon Governor Barasa’s arrival. Former CS Echesa and Matungu MP Peter Nabulindo had already been present at the funeral when youth supporters of the politicians allegedly initiated the chaos.
Governor Barasa later blamed the funeral’s organizers for the disruption, emphasizing that funerals should not be used as platforms for political battles. He urged leaders to conduct their own gatherings if they wished to engage with the public.
Despite the violence and injuries, Matungu’s acting police chief, Jane Pascal, confirmed that no arrests had been made yet.
The incident has sparked concerns about rising political tensions in the region, with many calling for stricter measures to prevent such disruptions at future funerals.
Kakamega residents dealing with Goons who were sent to disrupt a funeral service in Kakameg! pic.twitter.com/mWfeQyBaNi
— The Kenyan Vigilante (@KenyanSays) February 9, 2025
