Wahome, Kuria Snubbed In Event Attended By NASA Principals

A photo of Kandara MP Alice Wahome in her office.
Kandara MP Alice Wahome in her office.
Twitter

There was drama in Kandara Constituency, Murang'a County after area Member of Parliament Alice Wahome and her Gatundu South counterpart, Moses Kuria, were denied a chance to address mourners during a funeral ceremony.

Wahome and Kuria were accompanied by politicians and leaders allied to Deputy President William Ruto to the burial of Nancy Muthoni Kibe, the mother to renowned businessman Joel Kamau on Tuesday, August 3.

A source who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke intimated that Wahome grew furious after being denied the chance to speak.

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Her Gatundu counterpart, while addressing a presser after the burial, accused the Church leadership for intentionally snubbing them. The outspoken lawmaker termed the move as unfair and malicious. He stated that the decision to ignore them was informed by their affiliation to DP Ruto.

Wahome, through her social media page, stated that the leaders had gone to her constituency and she had a right to speak.

"They are all here in Kandara for burial. Rt. Hon. Raila, Hon. Kalonzo, Hon. JB, Hon. Wetangula and Hon. Mudavadi. All of them needed the Poor Bishop Julius Karanu to protect them from one small girl, Hon. Alice Muthoni Wahome. Deny her the mic (microphone)," Wahome wrote on her Twitter page.

According to the Bishop, the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Diocese of Murang'a South, made a resolution not to allow politicians to the podium after a previous church function turned chaotic when members of the Jubilee's Tanga Tanga and Kieleweke resulted in a shouting match.

After the bishop presided over the mass and final prayers made, the microphone was handed over back to him to ostensibly preside over the political session. 

Ordinarily, the session is usually conducted by the host politician or an elected leader who welcomes other visiting guests.

All MPs present, including the area legislator, were only recognised by the bishop after notifying them of the church's resolution reached in June last year. 

"I'm sorry to announce to both the elected and politicians around that we made a resolution to never allow leaders to make political utterances in church," Karanu said. 

The Bishop only allowed Odinga, Kalonzo, Wetangula and Mudavadi to greet members on one condition: that they would not make political speeches. 

After the session, he allowed National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi to read the President's message.

Other leaders who attended the burial ceremony included Peter Kimari (Mathioya), Cleopas Malala (Kakamega), Johnstone Sakaja (Nairobi), Acting Nairobi Governor Anne Kananu, Wanjiru Chege (Muranga), and Moses Kuria (Gatundu South).

Lawmakers during the funeral of Muthoni Kibe in Murang'a on Tuesday August 3
Lawmakers during the funeral of Muthoni Kibe in Murang'a on Tuesday August 3
Emoo FM