Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has on Thursday performed traditional post burial restocking rites for his late wife Adelaide Shikanga.
Mama Adelaide succumbed to Cancer on Saturday, October 5 2019.
She died in the hands of Khalwale who back then tried to stabilise her after she collapsed.
“She gasped her last breath in my hands during the resuscitation process,” Said Khalwale after her death’s wife.
The Vocal politician cum medical doctor has since buried his wife but even at that, he has continued to get guests at his Malinya home as it was witnessed on Thursday.
Elders from the Butsotso Clan on the Luhyia Community paid a visit to Khalwale for the post burial rites of his late wife.
“Today elders from the Butsotso clan paid me a visit at home for the traditional post burial restocking rites during which they brought me maize & chicken. Thank u my clansmen,” Posted Khalwale on his official Twitter Account.
Today elders from the Butsotso clan paid me a visit at home for the traditional post burial restocking rites during which they brought me maize & chicken. Thank u my clansmen pic.twitter.com/fQK0YttyrB
— Dr Boni Khalwale, CBS (@KBonimtetezi) October 17, 2019
The Luhyia community is a tribe that adheres to several customs during burial rites.
Before the coming of mortuaries, the Luhya’s used to preserve bodies of the deceased by putting the naked body on top of wet sand or charcoal and a 10 cents coin on the fore head which it is said used to work because the body would be good for even a week before it is buried.
It takes three days for a child’s funeral and about a week for the funeral of an adult and during this whole period people will camp in the home of the deceased to sooth the bereaved.
People who are close to the deceased are supposed to weep more than anyone else and it can even go as far as crawling on the ground and tearing of clothes while weeping.
The neighbours are also expected to help the bereaved family weep uncontrollably and the true test of unity is shown when neighbours show how they are touched.
When a husband dies, it was widely believed that a wife who was faithful to the husband would sit near the head of the deceased husband when the body is brought home while the unfaithful one will sit near the legs.
When a woman dies before her husband pays dowry the family will be obliged to pay the dowry or the wife’s family takes their daughter back to bury her. A man cannot attend his father in laws funeral until he pays dowry.
People who commit suicide or die at night in mischievous circumstances are buried at night in an unusual ceremony that is done by specific people.
Old men and senior members of the community are buried in front of the main house on the right hand side as their spouses are buried on the left hand side besides their husbands.
Girls who die in their parents’ home before they get married despite being adults or those who have divorced are buried behind the house near the fence or in banana plantations because they are considered as foreigners.
The remembrance of the dead is also paramount where after the dead have been buried a date is set for the Chinjiki and Chinganyiro. Both are memorial services.
During Chimijiki there is food and booze in plenty as they celebrate the life of the deceased and all the personal belongings of the deceased are shared among family members.
The quantity of food in a funeral determines the number of mourners that will be present, more food more mourners.Cows, goats, among other animals are slaughtered while ugali, rice vegetables and “Maenjera” (a mixture of maize and beans) which is considered cheap is served in plenty.