PLO Lumumba Questions Decision to Halt Speech for Late Nyong’o

Lawyer and public speaker Prof PLO Lumumba walked off stage after he was asked to pause his presentation to allow Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o to be welcomed, saying he could not continue under those circumstances.

Prof PLO Lumumba has explained his decision to walk off a stage after his presentation was interrupted to accommodate the arrival of Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o.

Speaking about the incident, Lumumba said Nyong’o was aware that the meeting was taking place but arrived after he had already started speaking. He said he was subsequently asked to stop his presentation to allow the governor to be welcomed.

Lumumba said he could not continue after being asked to pause his address.

He also criticised what he described as a wider African problem in which programmes are interrupted or adjusted to accommodate political leaders who arrive late.

According to Lumumba, the issue was not simply the governor's arrival but the decision to stop an ongoing presentation because of it.

The incident has attracted attention on social media, where some users have supported Lumumba's decision to leave the stage, while others have debated the role of protocol at events attended by senior government officials.

Lumumba's remarks have also drawn attention because of his long-standing use of the phrase, “A good dancer knows when to leave the stage.” The public speaker has previously used the expression when discussing leadership and political transitions.

In this case, however, Lumumba applied the idea to an event where he said his presentation was interrupted because of the governor's arrival.

It remains unclear who specifically asked Lumumba to stop his presentation and whether the request was made as part of an agreed event protocol. There is also no indication from the available account that Nyong’o personally instructed organisers to interrupt Lumumba's presentation.

The incident has therefore raised broader questions about how public events handle the arrival of senior officials and whether an ongoing programme should be interrupted to accommodate a late guest.

Nyong’o, a long-serving political figure, is currently serving as Kisumu Governor, while Lumumba is known for his public lectures and commentary on governance, leadership and African affairs.

The circumstances surrounding the incident may become clearer if the event organisers or the governor's office provide an account of what happened.

For now, Lumumba's explanation remains that he chose to leave because he did not agree with stopping his presentation to accommodate the governor's late arrival.

About the Author

Eugene Stephen Were, popularly known as Steve O’clock, is a Kenyan journalist, digital media specialist and multimedia storyteller. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Digital Media from Murang’a University of Technology, with expertise in news reporting, environmental journalism, digital content, photography, videography and film production. Contact & Social Media: Phone: +24795699374 | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BhhxUAYmk/ | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steve_oclock__mwenyewe | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@oclockcityc.e.o?_r=1&_t=ZS-98czWCBnRxg