Kakamega criminal gang on the loose: They steal food and attack mourners at night

Among the Luhya, a funeral is regarded as a highly respected ceremony for the living and dead. It is, therefore, taboo to disrupt the ceremony, which is usually characterized by elaborate fanfare and feasting. Relatives and friends pull out all stops at ensuring that the departed soul is given a befitting send-off. Even if one had a bad record, the dark side is brushed aside with platitudes taking centre stage instead. It is unthinkable to badmouth the deceased - cultural attitudes to death and mourning allow no room for criticizing someone who has passed on.

The Luhya believe that the dead watch over the living, and that is why those left behind dread doing or saying anything that might upset or unsettle the deceased. It is no wonder then that the latest happenings in parts of Kakamega have not only left locals perturbed but sent shivers down the spines of residents.