Mourners filled Makomboki village in Murang’a County on January 3, 2026, for the burial of Alice Wangari Gakuya, mother of Embakasi North MP James Gakuya. Political leaders from across the divide attended, and speeches quickly turned personal and charged.
Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu addressed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who sat among the crowd. She introduced herself clearly.
“Mimi naitwa Karen Nyamu na ni Nominated senator pale Nairobi, na Bazenga (Gakuya) ni mtoto wetu. Na ndio umeona niko hapa. Na yeye anajua vizuri nimetoka nje leo usiku.”
Nyamu explained her close ties to the family. She said she called Gakuya and sent help as soon as she heard the news, describing their relationship as that of siblings.
Then Nyamu expressed how she deeply missed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, recalling their long-standing friendship and shared political work.
“Deputy President wa pili wa Jamhuri ya Kenya. Mimi unajua nilikuwa rafiki yako. Mimi hukumiss. Na ata naangalia video za zamani pale tulikuwa tunafanya kazi vizuri pamoja. Aki ya Mungu naona vile ulikuwa unaongea vile ulikuwa unanyorosha mambo, nasema natamani kama mambo ingeendelea hivo.”
She acknowledged that things have changed.
“Lakini kwa sababu mambo iko vile iko kwa saa hizi, mimi sitasema mimi niko wapi lakini si mnajua? Na mkiwa ile pande mko na ile pande niko, sisi wote ni jamii. Na hatutawai kosana.”
Nyamu’s remarks highlighted old alliances from the Kenya Kwanza campaign days, when she worked closely with Gachagua.
Lamu Woman Rep jeered after Tutam speech
The funeral also saw political tension when Lamu County Woman Representative Monicah Muthoni Marubu spoke. She began with condolences.
“Kwa familia ya rafiki yangu Bazenga, kwanza nasema pole kwa kupoteza mama. Najua mama ni kitengo muhimu sana katika familia. Langu ni kuwaomba tafadhali wewe na ndugu zako muendelee kushirikiana.”
Marubu introduced herself as the Woman Representative for Lamu, known as Muthoni, with roots in Murang’a’s Maragua area. She praised local roads and electricity, contrasting them with challenges in Lamu.
“Nyinyi watu wa Mt Kenya West… nyinyi mnaonekana mshafika Singapore.”
The crowd turned hostile when she declared her political stance.
“Mimi kama Muthoni mimi nawaambia mimi sio wa Wantam. Mimi ni wa Tutam kwa sababu… Mimi Muthoni ni wa Tutam.”
Mourners jeered and booed loudly, and videos online captured the disruption at what was meant to be a solemn event.
Opposition leaders were also present, including Gachagua, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu, Nyandarua Senator John Muhia Methu, Embakasi South MP Julius Mawathe, and Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara. The incidents highlighted the deep political divisions in Mount Kenya ahead of the 2027 elections.
