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Strange mourner breaches tight security at Nkaissery’s funeral – PHOTOS


There was a major security breach during the funeral of former Internal Security Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery, after a man jumped onto the podium and started shouting the name of Jesus, while holding on to the casket.

The man pounced when Gen Samson Mwathethe had just started giving his speech, forcing the head of Kenya Defence Forces to momentarily cut short his speech.

Security officers quickly apprehended him and handed him to other security guards, who took him some distance from the main tent for interrogation.

The man claimed to have been sent by God to come and pray for Nkaissery to be raised from the dead.

“The spirit of the Lord sent me here, to come and fight the forces of death,” said the man who gave his name as Anthony Njuguna.

“If you allow me to go back there and pray for Gen Nkaissery; if he does not resurrect, feel free to kill me.”

What was strange was how the man, dressed in a black suit, white shirt and black tie, breached the tight security at the funeral and got to where the casket was placed.

A man who caused a security scare at the funeral service of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery explains himself after he was arrested. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU
A man who caused a security scare at the funeral service of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery explains himself after he was arrested. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU

DENIED ACCESS

“I told God that I would be coming to this place and asked Him to send his angels so that they could protect me until I reached where the casket was,” he explained.

The guards were clearly at a loss as to how the man gained access to the podium, when some VIPs were being denied access to the tent.

Among the dignitaries who did not find space in the tent included Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju, who patiently waited in the sun until space was made for him.

Some journalists were also denied entry into the tent, and only followed proceedings from outside.

Before Njuguna disrupted proceedings, there was another brief moment of drama outside the tent when President Uhuru Kenyatta was coming out of a private tent erected outside.

Just as he was getting out, a young man from the other side of the barrier was desperately trying to attract his attention by waving a piece of paper at him.

The man was however swiftly whisked away by security officials. When Nation late caught up with him he said he wanted the Head of State to give him a job.

“When the president came to Kajiado on July 5, I tried to reach out to him,” said the 35-year-old man who gave his name as George Kinyaga.

A man who caused a security scare at the funeral service of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery explains himself after he was arrested. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU
A man who caused a security scare at the funeral service of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery explains himself after he was arrested. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU

ALTERCATION

“His security detail took my number but I have not yet received a call from the president. That is why I came here today to jog his memory,” explained the man who said he is looking for employment as driver.

Earlier on, there was a brief altercation when bodyguards of Nasa Presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, were barred from following him into the tent where the ceremony was taking place.

Apart from those three incidents, the funeral ceremony, which was attended by thousands of mourners, went on smoothly.

The space between the Namanga Road and Nkaissery’s homestead – about two hundred meters away – was turned into on huge parking lot as military officers had a busy day directing traffic.

About 12 helicopters ferried VIP mourners, including the one that brought President Kenyatta.

At the car park, some business savvy photographers did brisk business using improvised studios at a fee of Sh50 for photos with a background of President Kenyatta on one side and his Deputy William Ruto on the other.

Other ‘studios’ featured the hero of the day, Maj Gen (Rtd) Nkaissery, with his head photoshopped on the body of a man sitting on a stool.