KAKAMEGA, Kenya – The National Police Service has issued a warning to politicians fueling political intolerance and inciting violence at public gatherings, particularly funerals, in Western Kenya.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli, speaking at the commissioning of a church and mosque at the Kakamega Administration Police camp, declared that the police will no longer tolerate the growing trend of chaos orchestrated by political actors.
“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 warned.
His remarks come amid a surge in violent clashes at funerals, where rival politicians have been accused of mobilizing supporters to heckle opponents, destroy property, and even injure attendees.
The situation reached a boiling point on February 8, 2025, during the burial of former chief Agostino Odongo in Matungu.
Supporters of three rival politicians clashed, leaving the family with a Sh1.5 million bill for property damage.
The growing culture of violence and hooliganism at funerals especially in Western Kenya including what happened to my @DAP_Kenya Deputy Party Leader Governor @GeorgeNatembeya yesterday at Malulu’s funeral in Malava Kakamega County,must be condemned by all and the sponsors of the…
In a separate incident, Mumias Sugar Company lost millions of shillings worth of sugarcane after arsonists set fire to its nucleus farm just a week ago.
Masengeli emphasized that no one, regardless of their political or social standing, will be spared.
“Anybody who incites people to cause scuffles at any event and those who are burning sugarcane in Mumias will be dealt with accordingly—whether they are senior politicians or their supporters,” he stated.
The DIG’s warning was echoed by Director of Criminal Investigations Mohammed Amin, Garissa Senator Abdulkadir Mohammed Haji, and Lurambi MP Titus Khamala, who were present at the event.
Haji called for unity, urging Kenyans to embrace peaceful coexistence regardless of political, racial, or religious differences.
“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,” he said.
Khamala, meanwhile, urged security agencies to remain vigilant, especially with the 2027 general elections approaching.
“Let the police stamp their authority and contain this unbecoming trend of violence in funerals. We don’t want some politicians to think they have a monopoly on goons and violence—that is criminal,” he said.
The recent wave of politically motivated violence has raised concerns about the erosion of social cohesion in Western Kenya.
Funerals, traditionally spaces for mourning and unity, have increasingly become battlegrounds for political rivalries.
The police’s renewed focus on curbing such incidents signals a determination to restore order, but the challenge remains daunting as political tensions continue to simmer.
