Lumakanda, Lugari Constituency – Nairobi County Governor His Excellency Johnson Sakaja faced an unexpected backlash on Saturday during the funeral of the late Lugari Member of Parliament, Honorable Cyrus Jirongo.
What began as a solemn memorial quickly turned tense after Sakaja took to the podium to address mourners.
According to eyewitnesses, Sakaja initially delivered his speech smoothly, paying tribute to the late legislator. However, tensions escalated when he shifted focus to local politics.
He urged residents of Western Kenya, particularly the Luhya community, to show respect for their leaders, singling out Musalia Mudavadi, and called on them to follow the directives of regional politicians in choosing leadership.
The comments sparked immediate outrage among attendees. Many mourners, already grieving the loss of Jirongo, felt Sakaja’s remarks were inappropriate for the occasion.
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Shouts of disapproval and heckling filled the venue, forcing the governor to cut his speech short and leave the stage.
Residents expressed that while they respected Sakaja as a national figure, they would not accept being lectured on political choices during a funeral.
“We are here to mourn our leader, not to be told who to respect or vote for. Let us honor Jirongo in peace,” one attendee said.
Political analysts suggest the incident underscores the delicate balance leaders must maintain when addressing ethnically diverse communities.
Imposing political instructions, particularly during sensitive events, can backfire and lead to public backlash.
Despite the incident, Sakaja attempted to maintain composure and later released a statement expressing condolences to the Jirongo family while emphasizing the importance of respecting regional leaders.
However, the episode has already sparked debate on political decorum and the limits of public speeches at personal ceremonies.
The funeral concluded with dignitaries paying tribute to the late MP, though Sakaja’s controversial remarks will likely be remembered as one of the event’s most contentious moments.
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