Kisii: Villagers refuse to bury one of them for being inactive in village activities

This is after residents of Mokongonyoni village in Nyakoe ward, Kisii County, refused to help in the funeral plans of the late Linet Kerubo on grounds that she was not involved in any village matters when she was alive. 

Kerubo was 33 years old when she died, and was living with her mother, Elmelda Otora, who, interestingly, has been active in the area matters, especially those touching on death. 

According to widely regarded and accepted traditions among the Abagusii, anyone still living with their parent(s), despite their age, and the parent(s) is active in village affairs, then that person should also be deemed to have been an active participant. 

But for the residents of Mokongonyoni, it is different. According to Kisii-based journalist Rogers Gichana, the residents claim the deceased was above 18 years and should have actively contributed to village affairs. 

Gichana says it took the intervention of Nyamataro PAG church, where the deceased's mother is a member, to settle mortuary fees and have her body buried. 

Burial is underway with the help of the church.

"This is strange. After these same residents saw that the church had taken the matter up, they wanted to take up the burial programme but the church said no. They had abandoned this family when it needed them the most," Gichana said.