Bumula Member of Parliament (MP) Boniface Otsiula was denied the chance to speak at his mother's burial after a bishop who was leading the ceremony stated he would not allow politicians to campaign during the burial.
Bishop Robert Magina of the Anglican Church of Kenya told politicians to organise their own campaign meetings instead of taking advantage of the occasion to push their agenda.
“I will not grant any chance to politicians to politicise this event. We want to give Mama Nasike a proper send-off," stated the Bishop.
He added, "She was one of our great believers who participated in creating many churches around Nambale diocese.”
Mr Otsiula tried to reason with the Bishop to give politicians a chance to speak but his pleas bore no fruit.
“Bishop, please grant us 10 minutes to address them. We should respect the governor and other guests who have come to mourn with us,” begged Mr Otsiula.
Mr Otsiula later stated that the cleric almost ruined his mother’s burial by denying leaders and politicians a chance to speak yet he (Mr Otsiula) was one of them.
“As a family, we are sad and disappointed that he hadn’t come to mourn with us but to [disturb] our peace. We will find a place where we can worship peacefully and carry out our politics without hindrance,” Mr Otsiula lamented.
Other politicians present at the burial were, Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka, Woman Representative Reginalda Wanyonyi, MPs Dan Wanyama (Webuye West), Benson Momanyi ( Borabu ) and nominated MP Patrick Wangamati.
