- Bumula MP Jack Wamboka and Senator Boni Khalwale used their speaking slots to attack President Ruto and security officers at the funeral
- Police, who controlled the programme, withdrew the politicians' speaking slots after repeated provocations from the podium
- Government spokesperson Charles Owino personally intervened to stop Wamboka from pressing on, telling him he could not insult the president
A funeral in Trans Nzoia County descended into open confrontation on Friday, October 16, when Linda Mwananchi-aligned politicians used eulogies to level attacks on President William Ruto and the security services, prompting police to revoke their speaking rights and eject one MP from the podium.
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The ceremony was the send-off for Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police Lazarus Opicho, who served as Commandant of the Security of Government Buildings and VIP Protection Unit.
Held in Sirende, Kiminini, the funeral drew senior security figures including Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service Eliud Lagat and Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli, alongside a Ugandan envoy and representatives from multiple government ministries.
The political attendance was equally significant.
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Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa, and MPs Jack Wamboka of Bumula, Kakai Bisau of Kiminini, and Majimbo Kalasinga of Kabuchai were all present.
Politicians' Speaking Slots Revoked
The politicians had been allocated time on the programme, but that arrangement was withdrawn after a string of inflammatory addresses.
Wamboka, speaking first among the political leaders, deviated from eulogising the deceased to direct criticism at the current administration and accuse security officers of bias against opposition figures, warning they would face consequences should the Linda Mwananchi coalition form the next government.
When an officer attempted to cut his speech short, Wamboka negotiated to have his microphone restored and continued in the same manner before handing over to Khalwale, who took the same approach.
With the politicians unwilling to be constrained, the police, as owners of the programme, announced that no further political figures would be permitted to speak.
Principal Deputy to the Deputy Inspector General of the APS Masoud Mwinyi took the podium to manage the order of proceedings, announcing who would be allowed to speak and appealing to those who had hoped to speak to accept the decision.
"For those who had prepared themselves to speak but did not get the opportunity, let us find contentment in what has been shared by our colleagues, trusting that, had we spoken, we would likely have expressed much the same sentiments. It is true that others may have different insights or memories they would have wished to share in his honor; however, the mourning does not end here. We still have the opportunity to grieve together with the family back home," Mwinyi said.
Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Igonga was the first to speak per Mwinyi's order. Igonga would then Speaker of the Trans Nzoia County Assembly.
Governors Natembeya and Sakaja would then speak on behalf of all governors who had wished to attend but could not, as well as on behalf of political leaders from counties that were not represented.
But as the programme went on seamlessly, Wamboka rose again to push for other leaders to be given the floor.
Government Spokesperson Owino intervenes
With the MP proving stubborn, Owino then left his seat to restore order.
He directly took the MP aside and told him that he and his colleagues would not be allowed to disrupt the funeral, adding that they had other opportunities outside to politick, adding that the officials present would not sit and watch the president being insulted.
"You can't come here to insult the president. You have a lot of opportunities. Why do you want to abuse the president in front of us? We are not accepting that. You can't abuse the president in front of us," the government spokesperson said.
Wamboka was subsequently removed from the podium.
The programme continued, with some flexibility extended to area MP Bisau and Wamalwa, both of whom addressed the mourners.
Sifuna, who had been expected to address mourners, did not speak, nor did Osotsi. The procession later departed for Opicho's home for the final rites.
Source: TUKO.co.ke