The burial of former Cabinet minister and veteran diplomat Burudi Nabwera on Saturday turned into a political stand-off. Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya refused to give up the microphone, and police officers moved in to shield him.

Nabwera died at his home in Kileleshwa, Nairobi, on October 8, aged 99. He was Kenya's first ambassador to the United States, the country's first Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and the first MP for Lugari after the constituency was created in 1988. He was buried in Trans Nzoia County on October 24.

The scuffle

According to The Standard, Kiminini MP Kakai Bisau, the master of ceremonies, left his seat in the VIP tent and asked the governor to cut his speech short. Bisau pointed out that Nabwera's will required him to be buried by 2pm. After about 11 minutes, the MP insisted that Natembeya hand the microphone to DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa, who was due to read a tribute from former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Natembeya refused. Kenyans.co.ke reported that a group of leaders stood up and tried to take the microphone from him. "I know how the programme runs," the governor said. "Give me time to finish my speech." He pointed out that the burial was set for 2pm and that it was only just past 1pm.

Police officers at the funeral quickly moved in to protect him, and the exchange lasted about seven minutes. The Standard reported that it ended when a family member asked the governor to wrap up. Hundreds of mourners left the venue during the stand-off. Natembeya was eventually allowed to finish.

Bisau won his seat on a DAP-K ticket but is now seen as allied to President William Ruto's broad-based government. He challenged the governor's remarks during the exchange, The Standard reported. Some partisan social media accounts have claimed he was sent to silence Natembeya, but nothing has been produced to support that claim.

'Trans Nzoia has been abandoned'

When he resumed, Natembeya turned on the national government. "Trans Nzoia has for a long time been abandoned while other regions receive development," he said, as quoted by Kenyans.co.ke. He said Kenyans would judge leaders on their performance in 2027 and called on politicians to present policies instead of insults.

Recalling his years as a regional administrator under Kenyatta, the governor said, "I have faced consequences for speaking the truth." He repeated his backing for Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as a presidential candidate.

The clash came after a difficult fortnight for the governor. Police deployments in Kitale, the withdrawal of his security detail and a row with State House over the Kitale market have kept him at odds with the national government. Bumula MP Jack Wamboka raised the security issue at the burial and warned that the government would be held responsible if anything happened to Natembeya.

A funeral turned political stage

Nabwera's send-off had already been political. At his requiem mass at Friends Church in Lang'ata on Wednesday, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi left as Sifuna was invited to speak, The Star reported. Wetang'ula said he had another engagement to attend.

At the burial, Wamalwa said opposition leaders would meet at Wamunyoro the following week to agree on a joint presidential candidate. Former Cabinet minister Fred Gumo described Nabwera as a key figure in western Kenyan politics and urged the Mulembe community to put aside its differences and rally behind Sifuna.

Political analyst Martin Andati told The Star that the battle lines in the region for 2027 have already been drawn. On Saturday, they were drawn at an elder statesman's graveside.

Photos: The Star (Governor George Natembeya); Kenyans.co.ke (the scuffle at the burial).