The National Police Service has issued a stern warning to politicians inciting violence at funerals and public gatherings, vowing to take firm action against perpetrators of political intolerance. Speaking in Kakamega, Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli emphasized that security agencies will not tolerate disorderly conduct, particularly in Western Kenya, where recent incidents of violent clashes have been witnessed during funerals.
“We are coming for you. We shall not sit back and watch as you incite youth to burn sugarcane, cause chaos, and disrupt funeral ceremonies,” Masengeli declared while commissioning a church and mosque at the Kakamega Administration Police camp. He was accompanied by the Director General of Criminal Investigations Mohammed Amin, Garissa Senator Abdulkadir Mohammed Hajji, and Lurambi MP Titus Khamala.
Masengeli underscored that law enforcement will deal decisively with anyone found inciting the public, regardless of their status. “Anybody who incites people to cause scuffles at any event and those who are burning sugarcane in Mumias will be dealt with accordingly,” he stated.
Cases of political intolerance have escalated in Western Kenya, with rival politicians mobilizing supporters to attend funerals, often resulting in violent confrontations. A notable incident occurred on February 8, 2025, during the burial of former chief Agostino Odongo in Matungu. Clashes among supporters of three different politicians led to property destruction worth millions, forcing the bereaved family to pay a fine of Ksh1.5 million to event organizers.
Additionally, Mumias Sugar Company suffered massive losses after arsonists set fire to a significant portion of its sugarcane plantation. The attacks are believed to be linked to political rivalry in the region.
Senator Hajji called for peaceful coexistence, urging Kenyans to shun violence and focus on unity. “It is God who chose to put us together under the umbrella of a country called Kenya. No one has a monopoly over the other. Let us embrace peace and support those in power to deliver,” he said.
Lurambi MP Titus Khamala echoed these sentiments, urging security agencies to be vigilant ahead of the 2027 elections. “Let the police stamp their authority and contain this unacceptable trend. No politician should assume they have the monopoly of goons and violence,” he said.
As political temperatures rise, security agencies have vowed to ensure law and order prevails in the region.
