An aspirant for the seat of MP in Nyando, Jared Okello, was on Saturday roughed up after youth from two rival camps clashed at the funeral of Luo Council of Elders member Michael Odotte Ojiem.
Okello was making his way to the function and was about to go to the VIP tent when the youth started hurling abuses at him.
The incident happened in the presence of Coalition for Reforms and Democracy leader Raila Odinga and other guests including Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma and Senator Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o.
After a short while, the youth barred him from greeting the former Prime Minister, roughing him up and tearing his shirt.
Not even the pleas from leaders to quell the situation stopped the angry and unrelenting youth from beating Mr Okello.
He was later whisked off to his vehicle which sped off to avoid the wrath of the youth allied to his main rival, current MP Fred Outa.
Speaking later after he left, Okello accused his rivals of planning the whole drama.
“I have been terribly beaten at the funeral, and one of my people is even nursing knife injuries,” said Okello through the phone.
Okello has contested twice against Outa and lost.
In the last election, he contested under the Ford Kenya party ticket and lost both at the polls and in courts where he had filed an election petition.