Drama ensued during the burial of Magdalene Kalembe, the widow of former Kibwezi West MP Kalembe Ndile, on Friday. The proceedings turned chaotic, forcing mourners to flee for safety.
The disruption occurred when Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse and Wiper nominated MCA Albanus Wambua nearly came to blows during the ceremony at Mbui Nzau village in Kibwezi West, Makueni County. The altercation began as a quarrel between the two legislators, who were seated closely together along with Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo and Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior.
Mutuse, seated next to Maanzo, was seen in a video footage obtained by the Star, pointing at Wambua in disagreement. He then stood and charged towards the MCA, but was restrained by a group of people, while Wambua was also held back from reaching Mutuse. Both were eventually led out of the tent where they had been sitting among other dignitaries.
During the chaos, Maanzo and Kilonzo Junior were quickly escorted to safety. Mourners and other guests scrambled to safety, leaving the tents in disarray, with chairs overturned. Former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana joined some bereaved family members in shielding the deceased’s casket as the situation became chaotic.
Magdalene died while serving in office as a nominated MCA in the County Assembly of Makueni.
Some of the mourners believed to be family members sobbed as the drama unfolded with some pleading with the warring groups to move away from the casket where their loved one lay.
“Tokeni hapo, tokeni hapo,” they shouted.
The situation later normalised and the burial ceremony continued after mourners returned to the venue.
The Star couldn’t immediately establish what the two politicians were wrangling for.
