Borabu MP Ben Momanyi addresses mourners at Gesore in Nyamira Township. [Stanley Ongwae, Standard]
A pastor leading a funeral in Nyamira made good his threat to revenge on rowdy politicians by prematurely ending the ceremony and even influencing a crowd of mourners to leave the venue.
Pastor Charles Obara of Christ is the Answer Ministries was presiding over the burial ceremony of renowned lawyer and politician Wilkister Nyangito before he was angered by the politicians who moved into the ceremony with unruly crowds.
The disorderly crowd instead of concentrating on the sermon the pastor was giving, resorted to making noise throughout the entire church program.
Nyangito, the wife to a Nairobi-based advocate Philemon Morara and a sister to the former health Principal Secretary Dr Hezron Nyangito, died two weeks ago after a long battle with cancer.
She was being buried at Gesore within Nyamira Township.
Efforts by the pastor and ushers to calm the crowd so that the sermon could be delivered bore no fruits as they continued to make noise while occupying the entire tent meant for the church guests.
“There is a lot of noise and if you are not going to keep quiet, I know what I will do,” the clergyman said.
When the pastor was done with his sermon, he ordered the family to leave the venue as he led them to the burial site.
Left with no option, other mourners followed the family leaving the politicians with their supporters who had accompanied them.
In efforts to hide their shame, the politicians led by area MP Vincent Kemosi had to mobilise and calm the supports whom they addressed.
The politicians and their followers had to turn their mobilized groups into a convenient crowd after other mourners moved out of the venue.
Senator Okong’o Mogeni, Borabu MP Ben Momanyi, Woman MP aspirant Josephine Omanwa and Township Ward Duke Masira are among the politicians who had attended the burial.
In the absence of the bereaved family, Kemosi announced condolence of Sh300,000 he was given by Deputy President William Ruto.
The politicians eulogized the deceased as a dedicated legal mind and politician whose star was dimmed early.
“Her dream of becoming Nyamira woman MP was big but we all accept God’s will in her death,” Kemosi said.
In 2012, the government banned politics in funerals and ordered chiefs, assistant chiefs and district officers to arrest politicians who flout the directive.
Politicians were directed to notify the police if they want to hold a political rally instead of turning funerals into political forums.
Then Internal Security Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode said the government does not send security officers to funerals, as they are not political platforms.
“Let politicians be warned that we will arrest them if they do not stop their political speeches in funerals. Let them hold political rallies instead of using funerals to chart their agenda,” Ojode said.
He asked the Church to take a leading role in ensuring that politicians do not turn funerals into political podiums.
The move followed an incident in Oyugis where then Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang, Kasipul Kabondo MP Oyugi Magwanga among others were caught up in chaos at a funeral.
The leaders fled as stones and other crude weapons were hurled during the funeral service of the immediate former Oyugis County council mayor.
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Source: The Standard Media Kenya