The burial, which had drawn several high-profile political leaders, quickly turned politically charged when Osoro, who also serves as the National Assembly Majority Whip, stood up to address the mourners.
Instead of a calm reception, a section of the crowd erupted into loud chants of “One Term!”—a phrase widely seen as a political jab directed at President William Ruto and his administration.
Osoro initially told the gathering that he had been sent by Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to deliver a condolence contribution to the bereaved family.
Osoro initially told the gathering that he had been sent by Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to deliver a condolence contribution to the bereaved family.
However, the atmosphere changed further when he added that President Ruto had also sent his personal support and contribution.
The mere mention of Ruto’s name triggered even louder heckling from the crowd, with mourners rejecting the announcement and briefly disrupting the burial proceedings. The political tension became impossible to ignore as chants and jeers filled the gathering.
In response, Osoro sharply pushed back against the hecklers, reminding them that the condolence contribution was not intended for the crowd but for Senator Onyonka and his grieving family.
He told the mourners that if they expected such support for themselves, they should wait until they had bereavements in their own homes. His blunt response further intensified reactions from those present.
Before stepping down from the podium, Osoro defiantly shouted, “Ruto tutam!”—a strong declaration of loyalty to the President despite the openly hostile reception.
The incident formed part of a wider wave of political heckling aimed at pro-government leaders who attended the funeral. Japheth Nyakundi was also reportedly targeted by sections of the crowd.
Other notable leaders present included Edwin Sifuna, Kalonzo Musyoka, and former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, making the event a major political gathering as much as it was a funeral ceremony.
The incident has since sparked widespread discussion online, with many Kenyans debating whether funerals should remain free from political battles or whether public frustration is now impossible to separate from such gatherings.
The mere mention of Ruto’s name triggered even louder heckling from the crowd, with mourners rejecting the announcement and briefly disrupting the burial proceedings. The political tension became impossible to ignore as chants and jeers filled the gathering.
In response, Osoro sharply pushed back against the hecklers, reminding them that the condolence contribution was not intended for the crowd but for Senator Onyonka and his grieving family.
He told the mourners that if they expected such support for themselves, they should wait until they had bereavements in their own homes. His blunt response further intensified reactions from those present.
Before stepping down from the podium, Osoro defiantly shouted, “Ruto tutam!”—a strong declaration of loyalty to the President despite the openly hostile reception.
The incident formed part of a wider wave of political heckling aimed at pro-government leaders who attended the funeral. Japheth Nyakundi was also reportedly targeted by sections of the crowd.
Other notable leaders present included Edwin Sifuna, Kalonzo Musyoka, and former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, making the event a major political gathering as much as it was a funeral ceremony.
The incident has since sparked widespread discussion online, with many Kenyans debating whether funerals should remain free from political battles or whether public frustration is now impossible to separate from such gatherings.
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politics