On Friday evening, Kitutu Chache South Member of Parliament Antony Kibagendi and his neighbour and counterpart Japheth Nyakundi of Kitutu Chache North clashed at a burial in Sensi Ward, Marani, in Kisii County.
The two young politicians had disagreed over who was best suited to lead the country ahead of the 2027 general election: President William Ruto or former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.
Mr Nyakundi, who also doubles up as the national treasurer of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, is a close ally of President Ruto.
Mr Kibagendi, who once worked in President Ruto’s office when he was Deputy President, is a fierce critic of the head of state and an ardent supporter of Dr Matiang’i.
The two have been promoting the agendas of their preferred candidates in the Gusii region and across Kenya.
So, when they met on Friday at the funeral of the stepmother of former Kisii governor James Ongwae in Sensi ward, tempers flared.
Trouble started when Mr Nyakundi, the host MP, invited Mr Kibagendi to address mourners.
As soon as he was handed the microphone, Mr Kibagendi began criticising the Kenya Kwanza administration. He also criticised the head of state, calling him a “habitual deceiver”.
“We were whipped as a community and as a nation to elect a president who is a liar, a president who does not listen to his people.” Mr Kibagendi claimed.
Annoyed by these remarks, Mr Nyakundi approached him with the intention of grabbing the microphone.
When Mr Kibagendi saw Mr Nyakundi approaching, he resisted the move, and the two lawmakers began shoving each other on stage.
Their security details intervened when they saw that the shoving would lead to a fistfight. They rushed to the stage and successfully managed to separate them.
As Mr Nyakundi tried to grab the microphone from Mr Kibagendi, he was heard telling his counterpart to stop attacking the president.
‘Stop that! No, no, no!” Don’t bring those things here!” You are spoiling it,” said Mr Nyakundi.
As soon as he left the funeral, Mr Kibagendi held a press conference in Kisii Town, saying that they would not allow anyone to insult Dr Matiang’i in the Gusii region again.
He claimed that the Kenya Kwanza administration was keen to sow division within the Gusii region, but said that they would not accept it. He urged the Abagusii people to remain united and to support Dr Matiang’i in his presidential campaign.
Mr Nyakundi defended his actions. He said, “If you are coming to a funeral, come, mourn, and then go home. Don’t tell us anything else; if you want anything else, we will deal with you perpendicularly. We don’t have any other choice because you can’t spoil other people’s names. They must accept that. We are where we are. We are supporting William Ruto. If they are supporting someone else, that’s fine by us.”
The incident on Friday between the two first-time legislators mirrored one that occurred in 2021 involving Governor Simba Arati and the Member of Parliament for South Mugirango, Silvanus Osoro.
The two leaders argued in front of President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga at the funeral of Josh Maangi’s father in Tendere village, Bomachoge Chache constituency. Maangi is the former Kisii deputy governor.
Governor Arati, who was then the MP for Dagoretti North, exchanged kicks and blows with Mr Osoro when the two lawmakers disagreed about who, between President Ruto and Mr Odinga, was the right candidate ahead of the 2022 general election.
Earlier on Friday morning, Mr Nyakundi had briefly attended the Jukwaa La Usalama Program, which was attended by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen at the County Commissioner’s residence.
However, he did not wait to address the gathering, instead leaving abruptly with Kisii Woman Representative Dorice Aburi.
wnyaberi@ke.nationmedia.com
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