The Makueni County Government, under the leadership of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr., has come under intense criticism after mourners in Mûumoni, Thange-Kibwezi Ward, were forced to carry a coffin for over five kilometers due to impassable roads.
The mourners, who were heading to bury a young boy who died tragically after being struck by lightning, were left stranded when the hearse ferrying the body got stuck on the muddy and ungraded road. The grieving family and neighbors had no choice but to lift the coffin and walk the entire distance on foot to reach the homestead.
“We were forced to carry the coffin on our shoulders for five kilometers because even the hearse couldn’t navigate the road,” said Mutuku Musyoka, one of the mourners who spoke to Channel 15 News. “It’s a shame that in this day and age, we are still living like this. Governor Mutula and our MCA have completely abandoned us.”
The incident has triggered a wave of public anger across the Thange Ward, with residents accusing the county government of deliberate neglect. Locals claim repeated appeals for road maintenance have been ignored, leaving the area completely cut off during the rainy season.
“Governor Mutula keeps promising development every election cycle, but the moment he gets into office, he forgets the people who voted for him,” said another resident. “This is not just about roads. It’s about dignity, development, and respect for human life.”
The area MCA was also put on the spot, with residents faulting him for failure to address other basic community needs including security, nursery school infrastructure, and water access.
“This leadership has failed us. Even burying our loved ones has become a struggle,” one mourner lamented.
The hearse being rendered useless by the poor road network has now become a symbol of frustration for residents who feel abandoned and voiceless. Locals are demanding immediate grading and rehabilitation of the roads, warning that they will take to the streets if their cries continue to be ignored.
As one mourner put it powerfully:
“If the dead can’t find peace due to bad roads, what hope do the living hav
