The funeral of an administrative officer in the Mayoni Ward of Kakamega County on Saturday descended into chaos leaving the family in disarray after rival groups allied with politicians stormed the event, turning it into a battlefield.
Supporters of Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa and former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa confronted each other forcing the family of the deceased to hurry the burial process.
The chaos resulted in injuries among attendees, including a police officer and security personnel, who had stepped in to restore order, with some left bleeding from the altercation. The officer who was left bleeding was assisted by his colleagues.
The situation quickly escalated into chaos as rival factions hurled chairs at each other leaving the bereaved family with additional damages to handle.
Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa speaking at a burial in St. Peters Catholic Church grounds in Mumias West Sub-County on March 23, 2024
Photo
Fernandes Barasa
Panic ensued as mourners fled for safety while police struggled to restore order, with their efforts yielding little success.
Amidst the chaos, an individual was caught wielding two knives, suggesting a sinister intention during the melee.
When security officers apprehended him, he confessed to stabbing two people during the confrontation but quickly pleaded for forgiveness.
”The leaders who did this should know that we don’t expect that you bring trouble when someone is mourning,” a representative of the family urged following the chaos.
Additionally, the widow of the deceased decried that she was not given proper time to mourn her husband following the skirmishes.
”I did not even say something about my husband. The priest only gave me two minutes of which I spoke to people who were making a lot of noise. Even my children, 15 of them, did not talk,” the widow narrated.
The chaos reportedly erupted shortly after the arrival of Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa. Former CS Echesa and Matungu MP Peter Nabulindo were already at the event. Youths allied to the politicians are said to have instigated the commotion.
However, Barasa was quick to point an accusatory finger at the organizers of the event for the chaos insisting that funerals should not be used for settling political scores.
”As leaders I would want to urge us that we stop using funerals to settle political scores. If you have something to tell locals, organize your own gathering,” Barasa urged.
The police led by Matungu acting police boss Jane Pascal, however, confirmed to the media that they were yet to make any arrests following the chaos.
Former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa at a Nairobi court on February 17, 2020.
Photo
Evans Habil