'Tunakumiss bana': Uhuru Kenyatta's speech briefly interrupted during Kijana Wamalwa memorial

Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta received a warm reception at the 23rd memorial service of former Vice President Michael Kijana Wamalwa at his Milimani home in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County, on Sunday.

The event marked Uhuru’s first appearance at a public function in the country since attending a Jubilee Party Kiambu County delegates meeting at Kiambu Golf Club in May.

Programmes were temporarily paused as Uhuru arrived, with political leaders and members of the Wamalwa family formally receiving him.

A jubilant crowd also broke into song and dance as he made his way into the venue.

Barely two minutes into his speech, a member of the crowd shouted, “Tunakumiss bana” (We miss you). Uhuru responded with his trademark cheeky laugh before saying, “Asante.”

The former President had also received praise before taking to the podium. As he alighted from his vehicle and greeted senior leaders, including DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, PLP leader Martha Karua, Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi, Fred Matiang’i and Charity Ngilu, a woman in the background praised his presidency.

“Huyo ndio former President wetu, aliyekuwa President mzuri. Tunataka uongozi wa Uhuru Kenyatta irudi,” she said.

Others in the crowd were heard chanting “Wantam”, a slogan associated with the 2022 presidential campaign.

This is not the first time Uhuru has received such affection from members of the public.

On July 27, 2022, during a campaign speech in Nakuru ahead of the General Election, a supporter interrupted him by shouting, “Uhuru, we love you.”

“I love you too,” Uhuru responded before breaking into his trademark laughter.

The late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga also received a similar show of affection on August 1, 2022, during a rally in Kiambu County, when a supporter shouted, “Baba, I love you,” prompting Raila to respond, “Asante, I love you too.”

During Sunday’s memorial service, presided over by retired Catholic Bishop Moses Crowley, Uhuru laid a wreath at Wamalwa’s mausoleum and remembered him as a statesman who fought for national democracy.

He also officially launched My Country First, a book co-authored by Kondia Mwangi Wachira and Betty Wamalwa, documenting the life and political legacy of the former Vice President. Uhuru wrote the foreword to the book.

In his address, Uhuru revealed that he had once approached Wamalwa to be his running mate during the 2002 General Election.

Eugene Wamalwa said Uhuru had flown directly from Addis Ababa to attend the anniversary despite feeling unwell.