Lawyer Willis Otieno of Safina Party has sharply criticized Tom Ojienda following chaotic scenes reported during a burial ceremony held in Seme on Saturday.
The event was organized to honor the late father of former Seme MP, James Nyikal, but it was overshadowed by allegations of political hostility and claims that hired goons disrupted proceedings and targeted Siaya Governor James Orengo.
Otieno, reacting to the incident, faulted Ojienda for what he described as conduct unbecoming of a senior advocate and public leader. He argued that academic achievement and legal standing should reflect wisdom, discipline, and respect for democratic values rather than aggression and disorder. The lawyer’s remarks have since drawn attention online, with many Kenyans debating the growing trend of confrontations at public gatherings and funerals attended by politicians around Nyanza region.
“A doctorate in jurisprudence is supposed to signify intellectual rigor, ethical discipline, a grasp of constitutionalism, not a license for verbal hooliganism or the tacit endorsement of violence. To act like a common ruffian while draped in academic regalia is not just hypocrisy; it’s a contemptible prostitution of education,” Otieno said.
The exchange has added to ongoing political tensions in the region, where rival camps have recently clashed over leadership direction and alliances ahead of future contests. Supporters of both sides traded accusations, while observers called for restraint and respect during family mourning events.
The incident is expected to fuel further debate over the conduct of leaders in public spaces and whether political competition is increasingly crossing the line into intimidation.