The habitual pattern of seeking to gain political mileage at funerals took an interesting turn over the weekend, as top officials were shunned from taking to the pulpit at a funeral in Miriri, Kitutu Masaba Constituency.
Nyamira Governor, John Nyangarama, Senator Eric Okong'o, Women Rep, Jerusha Momanyi, Borabu MP, Ben Momanyi and the former Kitutu Masaba MP, Timothy Bosire, were all forced to stick to their seats during the funeral of a Seventh Day Adventist Pastor, Shem Ngoko.
The former West Mugirango MP, Benson Kegoro, retired Justice, Samuel Bosire and Chief Justice, David Maraga were also present at the event.
Unlike other funerals across the country where politicians take centre stage, the late Ngoko's ceremony restricted all the politicians and county government officials to strictly introducing themselves.
Nyamira SDA Church Executive Secretary, Thomas Nyakundi made it clear that the politicians were to line up like every other mourner, pose for a picture and head back to their seats.
Nyakundi decreed that Governor Nyagarama was the only one authorized to speak on behalf of all the other leaders.
The other members of the political class could not take the directives and they duly approached Nyakundi, urging him to allow them to at least introduce themselves, which he did.
However, they immediately violated the new terms by going past the name introductions and right into political statements, prompting the SDA executive secretary to jump in and cut them short.
CJ Maraga had earlier described the late pastor as a spiritual hero who had gone on to accomplish his prescribed works of servanthood of Gospel mission.
The late Ngoko had served as the director of Stewardship and Church Development Activities at the East Kenya Union of the SDA Church.
SDA church doctrines have a strict rule that bars politicians from airing out non-christian messages while at the pulpit, thus explaining actions.
