By Violet Auma
Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa, and Matungu MP Peter Oscar Nabulindo supporters clashed during a funeral in Matungu, leaving one police officer injured.
Tensions flared when Governor Barasa arrived at the funeral, where Nabulindo and Echesa were already present.
Supporters of the three leaders began shouting at each other, and within minutes, the verbal exchanges escalated into a full-blown confrontation.
The funeral of the late Gerald Odongo, the former chief of Chibanga in Mayoni ward, turned into a battleground as rival political factions engaged in violent clashes.
Mourners, who had gathered to pay their final respects, were caught in the midst of the commotion.
Supporters of Barasa, Echesa, and Nabulindo hurled chairs at each other, disrupting the solemn ceremony.
The violence quickly spiraled out of control, forcing many attendees to flee in fear. Property was damaged, and the sanctity of the event was completely overshadowed by the political melee, forcing police to use teargas to disperse the crowd.
One police officer sustained injuries during the fracas, an incident that has been strongly condemned by the bereaved family.
The widow, Beneta Wabuyabo, expressed her dismay over the violence that overshadowed her husband’s funeral.
“I did not have enough time to mourn and pay my last respects to my late husband. I don’t understand why politicians would turn his funeral into a battleground. It’s shameful that some people were even running away with chairs,” she lamented.
The chaotic scenes forced the bereaved family to remove the body hastily for burial, cutting short what was meant to be a dignified send-off for the late chief.
The emotional distress on the grieving family was evident as they struggled to comprehend why a funeral was turned into a political showdown.
Meanwhile, the politicians involved in the debacle have denied responsibility, each blaming the other for inciting the violence.
Area MP Peter Nabulindo accused the police of allowing Governor Barasa’s supporters into the event while barring his own security team.
“The police have to explain why they allowed Governor Barasa in with people carrying rungus and pangas while denying entry to even my security team,” Nabulindo claimed.
On his part, Governor Barasa expressed disappointment over the chaotic scenes, questioning why such violence would erupt at a time meant for mourning.
“It is absurd to see such incidents happening at a funeral when people are bereaved and paying their last respects to the departed,” Barasa said.
Matungu Acting OCPD, Jane Pascal, confirmed that one police officer was injured in the chaos and assured the public that investigations were already underway.
“One of our officers sustained injuries after being hit by a stone thrown at him. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment. We are already looking into the matter to determine the root cause of this violence,” she stated.
The funeral chaos has sparked widespread condemnation, with leaders and citizens calling for an end to the use of funerals as political battlegrounds.
Community elders and religious leaders have urged politicians to exercise restraint and respect mourning families instead of turning funerals into arenas for political supremacy.
Local residents, who witnessed the unfortunate turn of events, have decried the growing trend of political altercations at funerals.
Many have expressed fears that the continued politicization of such solemn events is stripping them of their cultural and emotional significance.
“What happened today was an embarrassment. Funerals are sacred moments where we come together as a community to mourn and console the bereaved. Turning them into political arenas is unacceptable,” said one local resident.
This is not the first time political rivalries in the region have spilled over into public gatherings.
The latest incident in Matungu has reignited concerns about the growing intolerance among political factions, with calls for security agencies to take decisive action against those responsible for inciting violence.
Community elders have proposed stringent measures, including banning politicians from addressing mourners at funerals unless granted permission by the bereaved family.
Others have suggested that security be heightened at high-profile funerals to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The clergy has also weighed in on the matter, urging leaders to uphold decorum and prioritize the sanctity of mourning over political showdowns.
According to Reverend Samuel Makokha, a religious leader in Kakamega, politicians must learn to separate politics from solemn occasions.
“A funeral is a place for mourning and paying respect to the deceased. It is not a campaign rally or a battleground for political supremacy. Leaders must lead by example and refrain from inciting violence,” Rev. Makokha emphasized.
The disturbing scenes in Matungu have left many questioning the state of political maturity in the region, with growing concerns about the upcoming election period.
Analysts warn that if such incidents are not addressed firmly, they could set a dangerous precedent for future political engagements in Kakamega County.
While authorities have promised thorough investigations, many residents are skeptical, citing past instances where similar cases were swept under the rug without justice being served.
What was supposed to be a moment of solemn farewell turned into an ugly political battle, leaving scars that will take time to heal.
Calls for accountability and action are growing louder, with pressure mounting on security agencies to hold those responsible accountable.