Mourners at a funeral in Kisii County were left in shock on Friday after two Members of Parliament — Anthony Kibagendi (Kitutu Chache South) and Japheth Nyakundi (Kitutu Chache North) — engaged in a physical fight on stage.
The funeral was for Salome Ongwae, stepmother to former Kisii Governor James Ongwae, and had attracted several high-profile leaders.
Tension rose when Kibagendi took the microphone to address mourners and launched a scathing attack on President William Ruto, accusing him of “lying to the community.”
“We were hoodwinked as a community and as a nation to elect a President who is a liar,” Kibagendi said, sparking murmurs in the crowd.
Nyakundi, who supports the government, quickly grabbed the microphone from Kibagendi and attempted to eject him from the podium. This confrontation escalated into a physical altercation in full view of mourners.
Police officers and VIP security aides rushed to the stage to separate the two legislators. The scuffle disrupted the funeral program, forcing organizers to briefly pause proceedings.
Other leaders present — including MPs Silvanus Osoro (South Mugirango), Dorice Donya (Kisii Woman Rep), and Senators Richard Onyanka (Kisii) and Okongo Omogeni (Nyamira) — tried to calm the situation and urged leaders to exercise restraint during public gatherings.
The incident highlights the growing political divisions in Kisii County, where rival camps have been clashing over their support for or opposition to the Kenya Kwanza government.
Local elders and religious leaders have since called for reconciliation, warning that such confrontations risk dividing the community ahead of the 2027 general election.
Police confirmed they are reviewing video footage of the incident to determine if any charges will be pressed against the MPs for causing a public disturbance.
