There was drama on Tuesday during a burial event in Kirinyaga attended by lawmakers and leaders allied with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Tensions escalated when a pastor declined to grant the leaders a chance to speak.
As the situation intensified, the pastor was eventually forced to walk out of the event, unable to contain the brewing conflict.
The tensions quickly escalated when Kirinyanga Women Representative Njeri Maina and other leaders including the area Senator Kamau Murango stormed the podium demanding to be allowed to speak to the audience.
The pastor, however, stood his ground, maintaining that he would not allow the leaders to address the mourners who continuously grew impatient while chanting at the man of the cloth.
''You must respect our leaders and allow them to address us,'' some of the mourners who had stormed the main dias from where the pastor was demanded.
Attempts by female pastors present at the event to mediate between the sides proved futile as their plights to have the issue addressed calmly fell on deaf ears.
Soon after the pastor was forced to stage a walkout as the mourners shouted at him over his conduct. Additionally, they followed him as some cheered while recording short video clips of the visibly angry preacher.
''Go away, go,'' some women shouted in the local Kikuyu language while escorting the pastor who respectfully obliged and went into his car.
However, when questioned by the media why he refused to grant the leaders a platform, the pastor revealed that he had given them a chance, only for them to use the opportunity to politic.
''This is a burial ceremony and is not a political gathering. We are not fighting with them, we have honoured them and given them an opportunity to speak to the people,'' the pastor said
''Instead of condoling with the family, they were like settling scores. This was not good and is not allowed,'' he added.
The pastor also dismissed claims that he was acting in the interest of the government by acting against the leaders allied to the former DP.
