Tension gripped mourners in Kitui East on Saturday after a funeral ceremony turned chaotic when a group of angry youths attacked Wiper nominated MCA Jacinta Mwoni moments after she publicly endorsed Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka for the 2027 presidency.
In a now-viral video circulating widely across social media platforms, four heavily built men are seen storming toward the MCA just as she was concluding her tribute. The situation escalates rapidly as the men forcefully snatch the microphone from her hands, shoving her in the process, sending shockwaves through the crowd.
Witnesses say the chaos erupted immediately after Mwoni uttered the name “Kalonzo Musyoka” in her final remarks — a move believed to have angered a section of attendees allegedly opposed to the Wiper leader’s presidential ambitions.
What’s even more shocking is that Kitui East MP Hon. Nimrod Mbai, who was seated among mourners, is captured in the video watching the unfolding drama without lifting a finger to intervene. His inaction has raised eyebrows and drawn sharp criticism online, with many questioning his silence amid the violence.
The footage ends with local MCs and elders scrambling to restore order as shaken mourners looked on in disbelief.
The incident has since sparked a national uproar, with women’s rights organizations, civil society groups, and human rights activists calling for immediate arrests and prosecution of the attackers. “This was not just an assault on an elected leader, it was an attack on democracy and free speech,” said a statement from the Gender Watch Alliance, one of the many groups now demanding justice.
While MCA Jacinta Mwoni has not yet issued an official statement, sources close to her indicate she is “shaken but safe.”
As investigations begin, pressure is mounting on Kitui security agencies and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to apprehend those behind what is now being termed a politically motivated gender-based attack.
The funeral service of the late Stephen Kamuthwa Mwavu, a respected businessman known for his philanthropy and commitment to community development, was held at his home in Makuka, Endau-Malalani Ward, Kitui East. Mourners from all walks of life including family, friends, and local leaders, gathered to pay their last respects to a man celebrated for his entrepreneurial spirit and generosity. His death is a profound loss to the community, but his legacy lives on through the many lives he touched.
