Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has condemned violent clashes that disrupted the burial of Kakamega Polytechnic Principal Caroline Khamete in Ikolomani, terming the incident “barbaric and shameful.”
He accused rival political factions linked to Governor Fernandes Barasa and Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda of orchestrating attacks that left several people injured and property destroyed.
Khalwale called on the National Police Service and Directorate of Criminal Investigations to swiftly investigate, arrest those responsible, and end rising political violence in the county.
In a statement on Sunday, Khalwale said the violence erupted on April 11, 2026, during the burial ceremony of the late principal in Mukoyani Village, Ikolomani Constituency.
“I want to strongly denounce the barbaric and senseless acts of violence that occurred… during the burial ceremony of Madam Caroline Khamete,” he said, describing the incident as “a very unfortunate & shameful” disruption of what should have been a solemn occasion.
Witness accounts indicate that the burial descended into chaos after rival groups clashed, with attackers reportedly armed with crude weapons.
According to the statement, “rival groups engaged in a physical confrontation that saw crude weapons being used, injuring several people,” while “at least one person was seriously wounded after being stabbed in the arm.”
The situation escalated further as mourners fled for safety, forcing the bereaved family to halt proceedings.
“The violence was so severe that the bereaved family was forced to temporarily remove the body of the deceased from the service for safety,” Khalwale noted, adding that attackers went on to smash the hearse windows and destroy property.
The burial came amid heightened tension following Khamete’s death, after she went missing and was later found dead near Lake Victoria in Kisumu under unclear circumstances, sparking ongoing investigations.
Khalwale linked the chaos to an escalating political feud in the county, accusing leaders of “desperately fighting over the control of ODM Party in Kakamega County.”
He urged swift action, saying authorities must “arrest and prosecute the individuals who weaponized a funeral for political gain.”
He also demanded accountability from the two leaders and called for an end to what he described as a cycle of “goonism” affecting the region, while expressing sympathy to the bereaved family and those injured.
