President William Ruto's senior economic advisor, Moses Kuria, has faulted Embu residents who booed Public Service CS Justin Muturi, who was to present the president's speech at a funeral.
Leaders gathered in Embu on Friday, January 3, for the send-off of former senator Lenny Kivuti's son.
The mourners would not allow CS Muturi to read the president's condolence message to the family, prompting reactions from leaders.
Reacting to the events, Kuria argued that the display against the president was out of order.
According to him, funerals ought not to be grounds for political spectacle but an avenue where people, irrespective of their political leanings, meet to share in the grief of the bereaved.
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Kuria petitioned Kivuti to speak against the residents' intolerance towards the president.
"In our culture, we never refuse condolences even from our worst enemies. Messages are read publicly for the comfort of the bereaved family. It's the reason prayers are held in public including prayers for the family (Otherwise the clergy would retreat with the family and pray in privacy. I expect Sen Leny Kivuti to disassociate with this ungodly act. You do not have to like the President but it is his right to condole with the family," said Kuria.
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Kuria's sentiments came at a time when parts of the larger Mt Kenya region have lately displayed their disapproval of Ruto and his administration.
His speeches and representatives being rejected at public events in Mt Kenya have become a norm in the recent past.
In November last year, mourners gathered in Kirogo, Murang'a county, for the send-off of fallen nominated MCA Mark Wainaina.
The funeral service had been seamless until the speeches of Ruto and his deputy, Kithure Kindiki, were brought up by their representatives.
Kindiki's representative had difficulty reading through the deputy president's tribute to the fallen MCA.
The reader had started on a good note until the calm audience heard that the speech was from the deputy president.
They started heckling, forcing a member of the clergy to intervene, asking the speaker to hand over the speech directly to the bereaved family instead of reading it.
The audience cheered in agreement with the clergyman.
On seeing what had ensued, Governor Irungu Kang'ata opted not to read Ruto's speech as he had planned, instead handing it over to the family.
The audience calmed down after confirming the president and his deputy's speeches would not be presented to them.
Earlier, Kuria was also blocked from addressing the mourners after his sentiments seemed to have been siding with the government.
Kuria, who was addressing them in the vernacular, was interrupted mid-speech by a cleric who started singing, subduing his speech in the process.
He had strived to rally the residents behind the government, asking them not to follow the former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua.
Much of the Mt Kenya region has been showing disdain for Ruto and his administration, especially due to the unfulfilled campaign promises and the recent impeachment of Gachagua.
