Cs Mutua Shouted Down At Konzolo Munyao Burial As Mourners Chant “ONE TERM”

By Andrew Mbuva 

Labour Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua on Thursday  endured a turbulent moment at the burial of former Mbooni MP and Minister Konzolo Munyao after a section of mourners broke into loud “One Term!” chants the moment he rose to deliver President William Ruto’s condolence message.

The burial ceremony, held at Ngiluni Primary School in Kalawa, Mbooni Constituency, had drawn hundreds of mourners, including top national and regional leaders among them Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, DAP-K Party leader Eugene Wamalwa, former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki, MPs and several dignitaries.

Before reading the President’s message, Dr. Mutua attempted to calm the charged crowd by first offering his personal condolences to the family. Addressing Alex Munyao and the bereaved relatives, he expressed deep sadness at the loss, describing the late Konzolo as a close friend with whom he had worked closely over the years.

In his remarks, the CS also praised Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki’s sermon, urging those who had arrived late to find time to watch it, saying it carried an important message.

He went on to acknowledge former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and other leaders present, before briefly addressing the rising political intolerance witnessed across the country.

“I totally agree with the sentiments shared here about violence,” Mutua said. “Violence cuts both ways. At one time, I have been chased in rallies, and so have many others. We must end this culture of violence.”

However, tensions escalated when Mutua suggested that sections of the crowd were “shaming” Kalonzo Musyoka with their conduct — a remark that only fueled the heckling.

Attempting to shift to development matters, the CS reported progress on the Thwake Dam, assuring that the stalled project had resumed under the current administration and would soon benefit local communities. He noted that even Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. could affirm the ongoing works.

But as soon as he announced that he was about to read President Ruto’s condolence message, the crowd erupted once more into the “One Term!” chants, drowning his voice and causing a momentary disruption in the service.

This prompted Archbishop Ndambuki to intervene firmly. “We are in the middle of a church service,” he reminded the mourners. “The CS is just a messenger — and a messenger is never killed. This behavior you are exhibiting is the same one that triggers violence during elections. We must learn tolerance.”

With the bishop restoring calm, Dr. Mutua managed to proceed with the President’s message. But as he concluded, he turned to the clergy with a subtle appeal: “Bishop, I ask you to forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

The dramatic scenes underscored the rising political tensions in the Ukambani region amid shifting alliances and heightened national debate. Despite the disruptions, the ceremony proceeded with leaders paying tribute to the late Konzolo Munyao, remembered fondly as a seasoned statesman and a pillar of Mbooni politics.