A brief moment at Martha Karua’s father’s funeral has sparked debate online after Sifuna stood to greet woman representative Njeri Maina while other elite leaders remained seated when greeting her.
A simple gesture by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has caught the attention of Kenyans after a video from Martha Karua’s father’s funeral went viral.
In the video, Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina is seen greeting political leaders seated at the event.
She greets several prominent figures, including Kalonzo Musyoka, Justin Muturi, Fred Matiang’i and James Orengo.
But when Maina reaches Sifuna, the Nairobi Senator gets up from his seat to greet her.
The small moment has drawn comparisons online, with some Kenyans praising Sifuna for showing what they consider basic courtesy.
“A simple act of courtesy. Mtu akikam kukusalimia unafaa kusimama. You can’t shake a person’s hand while sitting. The only person who did that Edwin Sifuna,” X user Guru Miato wrote.
The moment has since sparked a wider conversation about how leaders conduct themselves in public, especially when receiving greetings from fellow leaders.
It also comes at a politically significant time for Sifuna, who has been mentioned among opposition figures positioning themselves for the 2027 presidential race.
Maina herself recently challenged opposition leaders seeking the presidency to put their differences aside and agree on one candidate to face President William Ruto.
For many watching the video, however, the politics took a back seat to one simple question: When someone comes to greet you, shouldn’t you stand?
