The sleepy village of Nabuto in Bungoma was brought to life by Juma’s cortège and burial. One of the speakers at the ceremony admitted that, “We have never seen a funeral like this one.”
Two hired choppers hovered in the skies as the body was taken round for public viewing in an expensive casket.
But it was a camera drone which shocked the village mourners most.
It took the intervention of Administration Police (AP) officers to calm the villagers who had been spooked by the drone.
“This thing will not kill you. It is not a bomb or teargas, but only a camera to shoot aerial view of the ceremony,” an AP officer explained to the perplexed villagers who were scampering for safety.
READ MORE
Of empty office and witchcraft whispers: Godhana's battle with faith, fear and politics
Seven arrested in Kilifi for performing healing rituals
Man, 74 hacked to death over witchcraft claims as killings hit 94
Man charged with threatening to kill mother over witchcraft claims
A regular burial ceremony in Nabuto costs between Sh 8,000 and Sh50,000, The Nairobian learnt.
In most cases, a motorbike is hired to carry the casket at a cost of Sh200 to Sh500, depending on the distance to be covered.
A coffin from the village carpenter goes for between Sh3,000 and Sh5,000; church choir and pastor’s ‘tea’ costs Sh 1,500 to Sh2,500 depending on the church while the budget for food ranges from Sh3,000 to Sh5,000. The provision for miscellaneous expenses is usually about Sh1,500.
Security and media coverage don’t apply in a village funeral budget.
Juma’s other wives however did not cause a stir, as the funeral MC noted: “We know that all men go to the sugarcane and somehow get children. It is my pleasure to request the other children of our brother and his wives to introduce themselves.”
That is when the late Juma’s other children, Wahid Yunas Juma and Pamela Juma stepped forward. But the villagers didn’t appear surprised.
