The National Police Service
has put on notice politicians promoting political intolerance, inciting and
funding youth to create chaos in funerals and other public gatherings.
Deputy Inspector General of
police Gilbert Masengeli cited that in Western Kenya, incidents of violent clashes
have been witnessed in 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," he warned.
Masengeli spoke while
commissioning a church and mosque at the Kakamega Administration Police camp in
Kakamega town
Director General of Criminal
Investigations Mohammed Amin, Garissa Senator Abdulkadir Mohammed Hajji and
Lurambi MP Titus Khamala accompanied the DIG.
Masengeli said police will
firmly deal with any person who incites the public.
"Anybody who incites
people to cause scuffles at any event and those who are burning sugarcane in
Mumias will be dealt with accordingly regardless of their status in the society
whether he is a senior politician or a supporter of a politician," he
said.
Cases of political intolerance
and chaos have been witnessed in Western where competing political interests
have played out in funerals in recent times.
Rival politicians have been
mobilising their supporters to attend funerals to cheer them while heckling
their perceived opponents.
The competing political
interests have turned violent and led to damage to property and injuries.
The family of a former chief
Agostino Odongo in Matungu was left counting losses running into millions of
shillings after mobilised supporters of three politicians clashed at his burial
on February 8, 2025.
Event organisers slapped the family with a Sh1.5 million fine
after a massive destruction of property.
Mumias Sugar Company (2021)
lost sugarcane worth millions in its nucleus farm after arsonists set a vast
portion of the farm on fire, a week ago.
Haji emphasised on the
importance of peaceful coexistence among Kenyans regardless of political
influence, race or religious differences.
"It is God who chose to
put us together and the umbrella of a country called Kenya. No one has the
monopoly over the other. Let us embrace peaceful coexistence and support those in power to
deliver. When the right time comes, make a decisive decision on the ballot
without shedding blood or destroying property," he said.
Lurambi
MP Titus Khamala asked the security agencies to be vigilant against political
intolerance ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Let
the police stamp their authority and contain the unbecoming trend of violence
in funerals.
We
don’t want some politicians to think that they have the monopoly of goons and
violence because that is criminal,” he said.
Ends.........
