- Mourners in Makueni sang loudly as Labor Minister Alfred Mutua tried to read President William Ruto’s message, turning the funeral into a tumultuous political moment.
- The sarcasm, combined with a protest slogan, brought the ceremony to a standstill and signaled the growing tension beneath the day’s gloom.
- Leaders allied with the opposition used the opportunity to criticize the by-elections that had just concluded, accusing the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
- Despite the commotion at the dignified funeral, those who spoke also reflected on the rich legacy of Joseph Munyao
An unexpected commotion was witnessed at the funeral of the former minister of the president Mwai Kibaki Joseph Munyao.
Source: UGC
Why did the Makueni mourners shout at Minister Mutua
This is after the mourners in Ngiluni village, Makueni county, started making loud noise while the Minister of Labor Alfred Mutua trying to read President William Ruto’s condolence message.
The funeral of former minister and long-serving Mbooni Member of Parliament Joseph Konzollo Munyao, who died at the age of 85, suddenly turned into chaos.
Tensions rose when Mutua stood to pay his respects to Ruto, with a section of the crowd chanting “Wantam!”, a slogan that silenced him and disrupted the program for several minutes.
The slogan, derived from one term, is often used by the opposition in their call to support making Ruto, Kenya’s first one-term president.
Church leaders on the stage tried to calm the crowd, but their efforts were ignored as the noise grew louder.
Mutua pushed forward, reading short parts of the message before being interrupted again.
“Please accept my sincere condolences as we join in mourning a great patriot whose life itself… With the death of Joseph Munyao, Kenya has lost a selfless leader…” he read, but people booed him for the volume of his speech.
The tension was not unexpected as many leaders united with the United Opposition were present, led by the leader of the Wiper Party Kalonzo Musyoka.
Munyao’s funeral was the first major public forum in Ukambani, Kalonzo’s stronghold, after the chaotic by-elections and their supporters also attended in large numbers.
How did the opposition leader criticize IEBC?
When given a chance to speak, opposition leaders turned the funeral into a platform to condemn the conduct of the by-election, accusing the government and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of allowing violence to mar the process.
Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. He said the events witnessed in several polling stations were unacceptable.
“The politics we witnessed in the by-election … should be condemned with all voices,” he told the crowd, drawing cheers.
Former Speaker of the National Assembly and leader of the Democratic Party Justin Muturi he supported, warning that violence during elections threatens basic democratic values.
“Violence during elections is a serious violation of election laws. It is possible to spread the essence of the user’s right to vote,” he said.
Source: Facebook
Kalonzo, who in recent months has stepped up his criticism of Ruto’s administration while defending his presidential bid, described the by-election chaos as revealing.
He said the opinion polls have given Kenyans an indication of what to expect from the electoral commission in the 2027 General Election.
“I am very happy that they have shown their worst in this recent by-election. Now we know their game plan. They have no other game to play. And this country cannot be like any other country,” he said.
He then turned his attention to the church, warning religious leaders about their growing closeness to the public and the presidency.
“When the president comes and says I’m giving you 120 million shillings, and we know his salary is less than two million, it’s a clear, obvious, and unbalanced abuse of power,” he said.
Despite the political heat, speakers took time to reflect on Munyao’s legacy, describing him as a dedicated public servant whose work left a lasting impact, particularly in agriculture and food security.
As Livestock minister during Kibaki’s administration, Munyao championed a livestock confiscation program that helped families survive the severe drought of 2006-2007.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
