Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City
The stern security measure of banning political speeches in funeral gatherings inside Luo-Nynza is most welcomed as a security precaution by the government to pre-empting in possible disaster in waiting.
Issue the ban, the Internal Security Assistant Minister Joshua Orwa Ojode warned that leaders who take politics to funeral places now risk being arrested on the sport.
The chairman of the Luo Council of Elders Ker Meshack Riaga Ogalo is among the community leaders who readily welcomed the government decision citing insecurity, especially during this year of the impending general elections. It is also in line with the Luo culture and traditional norm that the departed souls are given peaceful and solemn sending off.
The Assistant Minister was reaction came about following last Sunday incident in Oyugis in Rachuonyo South district where Immigration and Registration of Persons Minister Gerald Otieno Kajwang, Kasipul-Kabondo MPOyugi Maguwanga, the chairman of the ODM election board Eng.Phillip Okoth Okundi’, civic and ODM party leaders, Senate, Parliamentary and County Governorship aspirants were forced to scamper for their dear lives when they were caught in chaos and fighting melee that had erupted at a funeral.
The ugly incident which saw scores of youth sustaining serious injuries occurred during the burial of the immediate former Mayor of Oyugis Town, the late Coun Ogweno Ong’ondo.
The chaos erupted following the heated argument and disagreement over protocol between the area MP and ODM party boss prompting the youths allied to both side of the local political divide to swung into action during chairs and stones flew over the main dais causing bodily injuries to many mourners.
The residents and observers alike blamed the incident on the abrasive MP and also cited the arrival of many professional mourners who are to be roaming all over the villages appearing in almost every one single funeral after being hired to deliver slanderous speeches against the targeted victims, mainly aspirants for the various elective positions under the new constitutional dispensations. Others comes in their hundreds and thousands hoping to get handout cash from potential aspirants and for the purpose of feasting on free food provided to guests by the bereaved families.
“Let politicians be warned that we will arrest them and disrupt their speeches at funerals. Let them hold political rallies instead of using funerals to preach politics,” said the Minister, adding that Churches have been asked to take a leading role to ensure that politicians hijack funerals.”
The Anglican Church of Kenya Maseno West Bishop Joseph Wasonga welcomed the move, saying it was wise to respect the dead n the bereaved families.”We as a diocese had long banned politics at funerals, and we are happy that the government has followed the suit,” the Bishop said.
A near bloody confrontation occurred last Saturday following disagreement between the Luo Nomiya Church clergymen who had turned to perform the Christian burial rituals of the ODM politician Zachariah Omolo at Kokuro village, Sakwa Central, Awendo district within Migori County where one the local leaders who Is a suspect in another recent incident in Rongo where hired youths had been sent to disrupt a gathering of another group leading to the hacking to death more than five youths, is said to have issued instruction for the youths to be beat up the priest for refusing to allow political speeches.
But the churchmen stood their ground leading to a temporary disruption of the burial ceremony, which only resume several hours after the politician and their gangs of youth have cleared the funeral homestead.
The funeral gatherings are said to be attracting those aspiring for the various elective positions from far flung parts of the region, and professional mourners and hirelings.
One notorious professional mourner is said to have been seen making political speeches in funerals in far places like Mfangano, and Rusinga Islands and traversing the entire Homa-Bay region covering all the funeral homes in Karachuoyo Kasipul -Kabondo, Gwassi, Ndhiwa,Rangwe and Homa-Bay. The man is said to be an ex-civic leader who is politically bankrupt and could not even win a primary school committee in his own home turf. But he has been suffocating funeral goers everywhere with his political rhetorics.
Many residents of the region have welcomed the government statement on funerals in Nyanza which are becoming dangerous with high security risk. When fighting broke out, the sufferers are aged men and omen as ell as children and those who had lost their loved ones.
Across section of Luo leaders said the banning was the most appropriate action taken by the government imed at safeguarding the Wananchi who attend the funerals of their departed relatives. But who are of late been polarized by professional mourner and power brokers.
Ends
The decision to ban political rhetoric in funerals was long overdue. It’s dishonest and disrespectful to turn funerals as propaganda platforms for peddling falsehoods. Why is it so difficult for politicians to organize their own rallies to discuss matters concerning their constituencies? Why are we intent in loosing the long-held values of our society on the altar or bad politicking? Though I have been an active politician in Nyanza, I have always criticized the idea of descending on funeral homes simply to address mourners without showing any remorse for the families in sorrow. I think it’s time to get back to our roots and start behaving. The ban will also help to weed out fake mourners who are in the habit of hovering and traversing entire villages to get handouts from politicians. On the part of politicians, it also brings to the fore their emptiness! Any politician will clear-cut policies for his constituency or county would not contemplate using funerals where no one is ready to grill his policies. Society must also be blamed for they legitimize such behaviors in funerals. If society had put a strong embargo on such activities in funerals, believe me, very few would try to come. I think it’s timer we stopped this culture and admonish to conduct their campaigns elsewhere.
Let us hope that it will be obeyed! We always have declarations from the Government which are easier pronounced than implemented! Funeral occassions were very somber in the past and no clapping or laughter would be heard but with the influx of politicians who never saw a funeral they did not want to attend,things have gone haywire. While there are religious leaders who are known to be firm about political speeches at funerals,the majority had thrown in the towel allowing politicians to have a field day.Remember how people reacted when PLO did not allow politics at his mother’s funeral?