Bukusu Elders Warn Wamalwa Family Against Animal Slaughter During 23rd Death Anniversary

The Bukusu Community cultural leadership on Saturday said it will be inappropriate for family members of the Baengele clan to slaughter animals during the 23rd anniversary marking the death of the late Vice president Michael Wamalwa Kijana.

The elders Chairman Mzee Peter Masinde  considered the move inappropriate and a  taboo especially during the sacred, bi-annual circumcision season (Sikhebo), which occurs in August of even-numbered years.

Speaking to the Vision News Saturday in Kitale, the Elders Chairman said  that Anniversaries like that of the 8th Vice president  should not be allowed to mix with the active, vibrant rites of passage dedicated to the living initiates.

Mzee Masinde said the circumcision period is strictly reserved for initiating boys into manhood and should be left to put focus on the Community energy and ancestral connection on the living youth and not the dead.

" I wish to offer free advice to the family of the late Vice president Michael Wamalwa Kijana to avoid public slaughters or grave-side rituals during this specific window to respect cultural order. The late Vice president respected our traditional values and if we allow slaughtering of animals then we will be going against what he obeyed up to the last day before dying", He said.

He added that the specific rituals of the Bukusu circumcision season which started at Mwiala wa Mango should not be allowed to die off by those he said want the tradition watered down.

Young brothers of the late Vice president who didn't want to be named  said that Bukusu elders had advised against slaughtering of animals due to the on-going circumcision ceremonies in Western Province, Trans Nzoia County included.

Another elder Maruti Nakibongochi  stressed the importance of maintaining the Bukusu cultural values and urged the organisers of the event not to disregard the elders advice.

He warned that the elders will not participate in the anniversary if their advisory will not be listened to.

Disobeying the elders advice, he said  was a  threats to their cultural heritage.

Former CS Eugene y, a brother of the late Vice president could not be reached to confirm if the ceremony will go on as planned.

A close family member however  asked residents of the Cosmopolitan County to turn up in large numbers and join the family in celebrating the life of the great son of the Mulembe Nation.

He revealed that many leaders including retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and other opposition luminaries had confirmed attendance of the 23rd anniversary to be held at the late Vice president's home in Milimani, Kitale.