Funerals should be a respected ceremony where the spirit of the dead is given a decent send off. But this is not always the case.

Some mourners take this opportunity to push their own selfish agendas, settle scores, promote themselves and even intimidate their enemies.

Even family members have taken onto this bad behaviour. Recently, a father of the deceased took the occasion to start castigating his son-in-law, who was also among the mourners. He accused him of being behind his daughter’s death to the shock of other mourners. He even revealed that the man had never paid even a single cent for his daughter as dowry.

The son-in-law’s family also took the occasion to hit back, all the while the children watched as the family’s dirty linen were paraded.

It wasn’t long before the local politician arrived on the scene and took the opportunity to remind mourners that he was the best candidate for the 2012 election. He went on ahead to castigate the area MP for a shoddy performance.

When the area chief came, he took the opportunity not to console the bereaved but to warn the notorious illicit brewers that their days were numbered. He was quickly contradicted by the area councillor, who declared that the locals were free to engage in other ways of generating income given the harsh economic times.

Again I ask, why not give the deceased a decent sendoff?

— Edwin Makiche

The movie spoilers

You might have gone to a theatre to catch the latest play or movie on the scene. You make all the necessary effort and then sit back to enjoy your money’s worth.

But unfortunately you find yourself seated next to a chap or a lady who just won’t stop talking. You even feel guilty for responding to her earlier pleasantries, because to them it became an opening for stories.

Woe unto you should they be familiar with the play or the movie, because they will take it as their social responsibility to tell you what is just about to happen. "Don’t worry, he will not die..," they will tell as you watch the star hanging on cliff.

Unknown to them they kill the joy of watching the movie. The movie is built on and maintained on suspense, and if someone kills this aspect, the movie becomes as boring as anything else.

— Kipruto Lang’at