The wife of Konyu Ward in Nyeri, Member of County Assembly (MCA) Eric Wamumbi, Catherine Nyambura, whose body was discovered in a dam on Monday, was laid to rest in a tense ceremony marked by a heavy presence of police officers.
The send-off ceremony of the 30-year-old mother of two was attended by few of her friends, family members and leaders led by area MP Rigathi Gahagua among a host of the MCA’s colleagues in a service that lasted for approximately 45 minutes.
It was a nervous moment as the priest conducting the service had a difficult time trying to cut short speeches from the leaders present following directives issued by police officers in line with government’s Covid-19 protocols.
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Police officers could be seen regularly conversing with the priest conducting the service and who would in turn engage the speakers to cut short their speeches.
At one point, things almost turned ugly when the widower was blocked from eulogizing his wife when time allocated for the programme lapsed prompting him to rise in protest against the move backed by fellow colleagues.
“Allow me to mourn my wife, I want to do a tribute to my wife, not even Uhuru Kenyatta can stop this,” protested the MCA.
Led by Gachagua, the leaders castigated the State for what they called "selective application of Covid-19 regulations" by deploying heavy police presence and cutting short the programme.
Giving reference to recent meetings where leaders including Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli, Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia and Interior PS Karanja Kibicho held long meetings with no police interference, the MP said it was time that application of Covid-19 regulations was reviewed.
“The same way you (State) have enforced here should be the same everywhere. Let these laws be applied uniformly,” stated Gachagua who is a strong ally of Deputy President William Ruto.
He said the heavy police presence was unnecessary and a waste of public resources, saying it was intimidating to area locals who are law-abiding.
Gachagua also called on the government to open up churches just like it has been the case with bars and restaurants.
“If the bar and hotel owners can observe these Covid-19 regulations, the men of God will observe them even much better,” he added.
