Kenyans have taken to social media to express themselves on an incident involving Malindi Member of Parliament Aisha Jumwa and ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna.
During the funeral of Mombasa Deputy Governor William Kingi’s father in Kilifi, embattled ODM legislator Jumwa caused a scene when she snatched the microphone from Sifuna in an apparent show of night in her backyard.
Sifuna did not fight back or try to force to speak, a decision that has been hailed by many, including lawyer Donald Kipkorir and former lresidentjak candidate James Kiyiapi, among others.
WOW! Hon Aisha Jumwa shot up abruptly (in the public eye) and cut short the speech by ODM Secretary General, Hon Sifuna! Was it because of her grievances with ODM? This is intolerant and a discourtesy. Leaders must respect DIVERGENT views, there is really NO exception to this.
— Prof J. Ole Kiyiapi (@JamesOleKiyiapi) May 4, 2019
Aisha Jumwa just because you are a member of parliament doesn't mean you are smart. You are just being a big headed fool. What you did to @edwinsifuna is completely unacceptable and childish. You lack decorum and you are a loose mouth. You must be told off pic.twitter.com/SLJpZr1T56
— Lord Abraham Mutai (@ItsMutai) May 4, 2019
But at that function, Edwin Sifuna did nothing wrong. Aisha Jumwa denying Sifuna a chance because she disagree with him is immature. Just listen!! Agree to disagree!!
— Robert ALAI, HSC (@RobertAlai) May 4, 2019
Jumwa was elected on a ODM ticket in 2017 but soon after joined Deputy President William Ruto’s political camp.
Her decision to openly campaign for Ruto and criticize her party leadership led to her expulsion from the party technically sensing her out of parliament.
She has accused ODM Party of double standards and vowed to fight tooth and nail to overturn the decision, which she has appealed and is being represented by a close ally of Ruto’s in Kipchumba Murkomen – also the Elgeyo Marakwet County Senator.
Kipkorir, following her action in Malindi, took to Twitter where he described her as a “poster child of hypocrisy and corruption” and challenged her to resign and face the electorate.
Aisha Jumwa has repeatedly said she has abandoned ODM …. Today, she stopped Edwin Sifuna from speaking in a funeral ceremony …. If she is man enough, let her resign from Parliament & re-contest on TangaTanga Party … Aisha is poster-child Of HYPOCRISY & CORRUPTION.
— Donald B Kipkorir (@DonaldBKipkorir) May 3, 2019
Her name was trending at the top on Twitter and maintained a too 10 position for most of the day, majority of the more than four thousand tweets suggesting her reaction was evidence of political immaturity.
Aisha Jumwa is a woman full of rage and hate. Rudely interrupting ODM Sec Gen and almost hitting him on the head. She can’t show maturity, restraint and civility expected of a member of National Assembly. Shame. @edwinsifuna you showed maturity. pic.twitter.com/cTcQ5r3ObG
— Sadam Hussein (@sadamgooner) May 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/AbalaKinyua/status/1124360193016520704?s=19
However, NASA strategist and renowned economist, David Ndii, supported the under-fire MP, saying it was u fair because she was being attacked on the basis of being a woman yet “when she was fighting on our side, such didn’t arise”.
We are not victimizing Sifuna. We are standing with Aisha Jumwa’s right to fight back without being chastised on gender basis. Aisha and ODM political brawl is a very public matter, and ODM should have steered clear of that subject in her home turf.
— David Ndii (@DavidNdii) May 4, 2019
She argued that there was no room for politics in funerals, which seemed to bode well with her backers.
I stand with the iron lady…#Aisha jumwa..Iron lady.
Sifuna must respect leaders and also respect the cultural values of Mijikenda communities when paying homage to the deceased and the bereaved family.— SonOfTheSoil (@a_rwok) May 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/Trackmann/status/1124602282061062144?s=19
Speaking after the event, Sifuna said it was unfortunate that “people have been going round spreading lies but when we want to set the record straight then they become uncomfortable.”
