Pistols were dramatically drawn during a chaotic burial in Mui Ward, Mwingi Central constituency, after area MP Gideon Mulyungi and two aspirants challenging him for the seat clashed before shocked mourners. The tense confrontation turned what was supposed to be a solemn farewell into a battleground of political supremacy.
The ceremony had proceeded peacefully earlier in the day as family members and mourners followed the programme. However, tension began to rise shortly before politicians took to the podium, with rival camps exchanging harsh words.
Makau Kimwele, a senior Kitui County officer who has announced his interest in the Mwingi Central parliamentary seat, was among those present. His presence reportedly sent shockwaves through the gathering, given his declared intention to unseat Mulyungi.
Also present was Erastus Mbalà, another aspirant from the area, who listened keenly to the eulogies before the disruptions began. Mbalà has equally declared his bid for the parliamentary seat, adding to the fierce competition.
Matters escalated the moment MP Mulyungi arrived at the burial. He was received by noisy goons chanting “tsunami! tsunami!”—a slogan associated with his political movement. Their sudden intrusion unsettled the mourners and brought the funeral programme to a complete standstill.
For several minutes, proceedings were halted as organisers attempted to restore order. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense as Mulyungi’s team pushed its way toward the podium.
Witnesses say Mulyungi had recently lost his bodyguard following an arrest linked to forest clearing allegations. The officer’s absence left the MP’s security compromised, heightening sensitivity within his camp.
Sources claim that some of the goons accompanying the MP operate under hired instructions and were ready to disrupt the funeral. Their actions sparked immediate friction with rival groups present at the burial.
Those who had earlier been aligned with Mulyungi reportedly switched allegiance to a new political faction in Mwingi. According to the article, they had visited a remand facility and later joined Governor Julius Malombe’s team, intensifying rivalry in the constituency.
Kimwele, determined to assert his presence, arrived with freelance hecklers led by Pauline wa Ndumba. Their mission was to heckle Mulyungi’s speech and challenge his leadership record in Mwingi Central.
When Mulyungi stepped to the podium, Kimwele’s hecklers erupted, accusing him of poor performance and mismanagement. Tempers flared as the insults grew louder and more provocative, drowning the MP’s attempts to speak.
Sensing danger, Mulyungi confronted Kimwele, telling him bluntly that he would invite whoever he wished to the event. Kimwele stood his ground, insisting that the MP had failed his people and must “organise his own meetings.”
It is at this point that chaos exploded. Chairs flew in every direction as supporters from both camps clashed. Even a funeral stand was used as a weapon, with several mourners—who had nothing to do with the political fight—injured in the commotion.
Amid the violence, a man believed to be aligned with Mulyungi drew a pistol and pointed it at Kimwele. Panic swept through the crowd as mourners scrambled for safety, terrified that a shooting was imminent.
The bereaved family, already overwhelmed by grief, suffered even more distress. The article reports that Joseph Muema Kitwombe, father of the deceased, collapsed due to shock from the chaos. He was rushed to Mathuki Health Centre for treatment.
Police later intervened to calm the situation, but the damage was already done. The funeral, intended to honour a loved one, had been overshadowed by political hostility and life-threatening confrontation.
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