Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika faced a challenging situation at a funeral in Bahati Constituency on Friday, where mourners expressed hostility towards statements from Kenya Kwanza leaders. The gathering was held to honor Henry Gachie, the brother of Bahati MP Irene Njoki, but the atmosphere turned tense as the crowd jeered at any attempts by political leaders to speak.
Kihika struggled to gain the audience’s attention long enough to read President William Ruto’s condolence message. She implored the mourners, emphasizing that the message was meant for the grieving family, but her pleas were largely drowned out by jeers. After quickly reading the President’s message, she thanked the crowd for their valuable feedback, acknowledging the palpable frustration in her remark, “Siku hizi mko moto sana…tunashukuru kwa kutupa ujumbe wa hali halisi,” which translates to “You are very fired up these days… we thank you for giving us a message of reality.”
Other leaders also encountered difficulties. Ndia MP George Macharia attempted to promote government initiatives but quickly retreated in the face of the crowd’s indifference. Kiambu Woman Representative Anne Wamuratha tried to engage the audience with a popular Kikuyu song but ended up singing solo after the mourners rejected her invitation to join in.
EALA MP Kanini Kega distanced himself from the local political turmoil, stating, “Sitaki kuongea mengi kwa sababu mimi huwa siko huku, mimi huwa Tanzania. Kwa hivo muniulize mambo ya Tanzania, Arusha, Somalia…” meaning “I don’t want to say much because I am usually not here; I am usually in Tanzania. So ask me about Tanzania, Arusha, Somalia…”
In light of the crowd’s reception, many speakers opted to steer their remarks towards less contentious topics, recognizing the need to adapt to the tense atmosphere.
