A funeral service in Ikolomani, Kakamega County, took a dramatic turn on Saturday when Kakamega Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda, reportedly under the influence of alcohol, confronted Governor Fernandes Barasa in an unprecedented public outburst. Armed with a rungu and visibly angry, Muhanda disrupted the governor’s speech, forcing law enforcement officers to intervene.
The Woman Representative, who appeared unsteady on her feet and agitated, interrupted the proceedings as the governor was addressing mourners. Witnesses reported that she left her seat in the tent, carrying a rungu, and walked straight to the governor. She stood directly behind him and began lecturing him in his ear, causing visible discomfort. The situation escalated further when organizers switched off the microphones to prevent her words from being amplified.
Her actions brought the event to a standstill, with church leaders stepping in to restore calm. Witnesses described her as almost staggering and unusually irate, a sharp departure from her typically composed demeanor.
This incident highlights the intensifying rivalry between Muhanda and Barasa, both of whom are reportedly eyeing the Kakamega gubernatorial seat in 2027. The two leaders have clashed publicly on numerous occasions, but yesterday’s confrontation marked a new low in their strained relationship.