- Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale made a moving traditional statement at the funeral of Cyrus Jirongo in Lumakanda
- Dressed in traditional clothing and surrounded by Isukuti drummers, he carried a spear and torch, attracting mourners to the event with traditional chants.
- The event ended with the gift of a bull to the Jirongo family, symbolizing mourning and solidarity with the bereaved
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, on Monday, December 29, held a ceremony in Lumakanda, Lugari, where the body of former Lugari Member of Parliament Cyrus Jirongo was taken for burial.
Source: Facebook
The body arrived for the last rites after waking up in Nairobi and Kitalewhere the deceased had a residence.
Perhaps appreciating the seriousness of Jirongo’s tragedy, due to his great name, Khalwale made a statement at the home of the deceased.
The Member of Parliament, dressed in traditional clothing spotted like a leopard skin, arrived with a procession led by a group of Isukuti drummers and dancers who sang mourning songs as they entered the house.
Their joyous arrival stole the show as other mourners stopped to watch, while others joined in protest.
Khalwale, armed with a spear and a torch, went to the funeral tent where the body was. He was with his male followers, with handles and clubs.
He would be seen giving Luhya’s enthusiastic remarks while flashing his body.
His followers, brandishing clubs, added to his remarks with responses of approval.
Khalwale declared a curse on those who could be involved in Jirongo’s tragic death.
The senator later handed over a bull to the bereaved family as a sign of mourning and solidarity with them.
At the same time, the Luhya elders insist that the late Jirongo should be buried with all the traditional rituals followed, saying that his death cannot be ignored like any other.
Source: Facebook
The former Lugari Member of Parliament died in a fatal road accident on December 13 after his car was hit by a speeding Climax bus in Karai, along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway.
His death sparked speculation, with those close to him claiming it was planned.
Cultural traditions pressed by the elders of the Luhya community in Jirongo’s funeral
Even as the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) continues its investigation into the circumstances of the accident, the issue of cultural customs has taken the place of the funeral of the deceased politician.
Luhya elders insist that Jirongo must be buried with a torch lit by four porcupine nails inside the coffin.
According to them, the torch will signal that those who could conspire against Jirongo, and its extinguishing will signal that the conspirators are finished.
“Torches are very important. We will use the batteries when they burn out, it will mean that those involved in the death will die with them. And not only will we use torches, but also porcupine feathers. They will be placed in all four corners of the grave to track those involved,” Harun Opanda, an elder of the Wawanga community, said in an interview with NTV.
In addition to disturbing the alleged conspirators, the ritual will expose them.
Amos Wawire, an elder from the Bunyala community in the Navakholo area of Kakamega, said the conspirators will not tolerate the effects of the rituals, and that they will start confessing one by one.
He revealed that in order for the torch ritual to work, it is strengthened by an ancient object.
“If someone killed him, we will bury him with a torch; then we will strengthen it with a special ancient medicine. We will pronounce it seven times, and the medicine will follow those involved. Soon after, we will see them die, and then they will come forward to confess,” said Wawire.
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