- Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura caused a stir at the funeral in Kabarak after he refused to give up the seat reserved for the Minister of Trade and Industry, Lee Kinyanjui
- Internal Security Minister Kipchumba Murkomen intervened, urging Mwaura to pass him, but the speaker remained clinging to his seat
- Another chair had to be brought in for Kinyanjui, who ended up sitting next to Murkomen, a sign of tension.
Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura caused a stir after he grabbed the seat reserved for the Minister of Trade and Industry, Lee Kinyanjui, at the funeral.
Source: Twitter
The two had joined other high-ranking officials in the funeral of the daughter of the Director General of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Capt. William Rutoheld in Kabarak, Nakuru County, Friday, April 10.
Mitchell Jelimo lost his life in a road accident in Taita Taveta on April 4, when he was with his father and other family members.
The car they were traveling in hit a stationary trailer, causing his death on the spot.
The other people in the car survived with injuries.
Why Isaac Mwaura was ‘faced’ in the funeral
Lee apparently arrived late, long after the funeral service had begun and the attendees had already been seated.
He greeted them all while worship songs were being sung and went to the place where he was supposed to sit.
But there was no seat, which made the Minister of the Interior Dating Murkomen convince Mwaura to give up his seat to Lee.
“Mwaura, please let CS sit there,” Murkomen was heard saying.
Despite Murkomen’s efforts, Mwaura remained stubborn, did not speak or leave the seat.
He continued to hold his position, forcing another seat to be brought to the CS, who later sat next to his Home Affairs colleague.
This is not the first time that Mwaura appears to have had conflicts with his fellow government officials.
Why was Mwaura accused at the White House?
Last May, there seemed to be growing tension within President William Ruto’s White House team in Nairobi, as officials clashed over how government issues were presented.
Mwaura was criticized after giving two conflicting statements about who keeps the National Seal.
In one of his weekly press conferences, Mwaura insisted that the seal should be under the Head of Public Service, ignoring claims that the Attorney General is the legal custodian.
His statements provoked a strong backlash, forcing him to issue a clarification the next day.
In a subsequent statement, Mwaura changed his position, realizing that legally the seal is under the Office of the Attorney General.
He defended himself by saying that his earlier statements had been misrepresented.
The inconsistency exposed him to harsh criticism, with White House officials publicly criticizing him and questioning his credibility.
Among those who criticized him was an insider of the White House, Sam Terriz, who accused Mwaura of creating confusion and weakening the image of the president.
Source: Facebook
Terriz claimed that the spokesperson’s fickleness undermined the expected transparency in government communications.
This display of stark differences showed divisions within Ruto’s communications team, which could undermine the delivery of important information to the public.
However, some analysts believe that the competition can be beneficial, as each side tries to impress the president by doing better.
Who is the proper keeper of the National Seal?
The National Seal, recognized in the Constitution of Kenya as a national symbol, plays an important role in authenticating official government documents.
Concerns have been raised about his removal from the Attorney General’s post, with critics warning that the move could weaken legal oversight and open loopholes for the abuse of government power.
Information shows that the former Attorney General, Justin Muturiopposed the change, and some insiders claim that opposition may have contributed to his removal.
His successor, Dorcas Oduor, gave vague answers when asked about the seal’s current whereabouts.
The Executive Order of November 2023 transferred the custody of the seal to the Head of Public Service (HOPS), which led to warnings from legal experts such as Gitobu Imanyara and Willis Otieno that the move may violate the Constitution and undermine existing accountability systems.
Analysts explain that giving a person appointed by the president, who has not been approved by the Parliament or clearly mentioned in the Constitution, the responsibility of preserving this important symbol of the nation can undermine public trust and cause legal challenges.
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