A section of Kiambu locals has termed as embarrassing and unfortunate the political clash between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Cord leader Raila Odinga witnessed during the burial of the late veteran politician William Ole Ntimama on Wednesday.
According to the locals, the political clash between Uhuru and Raila was unnecessary.
Speaking on Thursday at Kiambu Town the locals said that the burial ceremony of the late Ntimama was not the right venue for Uhuru and Raila to trade their political thoughts.
“The whole thing was embarrassing not only to the family but also the country,” said Jane Njiru, a social worker in Kiambu.
Njiru stated that burial ceremonies are meant to console the families of the deceased and not for politicians to trade their issues.
“Politicians should draw the difference between burial ceremonies and political rallies, it is unfair and lack respect for them to politic at funerals,” said Simon Mburu, a political science student at a local university.
The locals claim that Ntimama’s family deserved a calm environment during the burial.
The Kiambu locals now want regulations put in place to bar politicians from politicking at funerals.
However, according to Peter Ngure, a Kiambu based political analyst, politicians prefer burials as avenues to push their agenda.
He says that politicking at funerals, weddings and churches is likely to continue as the country heads to the 2017 elections.
On Wednesday during the burial of Ntimama at his home in Motonyi, Narok County, Uhuru and Raila engaged in a heated political debate with both trading accusations against each other.
The Ntimama family had earlier requested politicians attending the burial to keep off politics in respect of the late veteran politician.