Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama almost exchanged blows during a burial ceremony in Machakos County on Wednesday.

The two former bosom buddies brought tension to the funeral service of the late Bernard Nguyu, the Machakos Regional Presiding Bishop of AIC which was held at Mitaboni.

Trouble started when Musyoka teased Muthama over his ex-wife Agnes Kavindu, who is vying for Machakos senate seat on a Wiper ticket in the March 18 by-election, at the event attended by top Ukambani leaders.

The Wiper Party boss had arrived at the funeral serviced accompanied by Kavindu as the event neared its end as Muthama was making his speech.

Johnstone Muthama at the burial. PHOTO/COURTESY

The former Machakos Senator was heckled when he bashed the government for allocating Sh4.5 billion to MCAs saying it was a bribe to pass the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Bill.

The mourners shouted down the former Machakos Senator forcing him to cut short his speech.

However, when Musyoka addressed the mourners last, he made fun of him telling him that he would return his former spouse to him as a senator after the 2022 general election.

“I am telling you that next year, you will see Muthama running to perch on my chest. Because he knows where we are and where we are going. Even if he gets irritated, I’ll hand his wife (Kavindu) back to him as a senator,” he said amid laughter from the mourners.

The remarks saw an agitated Muthama rise from his seat and charge towards the Wiper Party boss but he was restrained by lawmakers present led by Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka.

The funeral was also attended Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, who has since ditched Musyoka’s political party, and his Machakos counterpart Alfred Mutua and several MPs.

Muthama is currently the interim chairman of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) linkd to Deputy President William Ruto.

The political drama ensued at the funeral service despite Mutua, who was in charge of VIP protocol, warning politicians against making inflammatory political remarks at the ceremony.

Alfred Mutua. PHOTO/COURTESY

But the Machakos County boss said he was ready to back the other presidential candidates from Ukambani - Musyoka and Kibwana - should they prove to be more popular than him.

“I’m ready to support anyone between Prof. Kibwana and Kalonzo, if they are more popular than I across Kenya. Similarly, I expect the same of them,” he said.