Bungoma leaders ban night dances at circumcision

By Grace Wekesa

The night circumcision in Bungoma County has been banned to curb the high rate of school drop out and poor performance.

In a meeting held by all the chiefs and assistants chiefs at Nang’eni in Bumula, the administrators banned night dances during the traditional rite on note that it compromises education.

This follows an outcry by head teachers from the region that boys are not reporting to school and some are missing the continuous assessment tests which may affect their final results.

Chief Sharf Fwamba while announcing the ban said with the help of police they would arrest those who will be found practicing at night including their parents.

“Those who think we are joking and ignore the order would face the music,” said the administrator.

 “All pupils should be at school and we would crackdown on those who decide to keep off learning because they prefer singing and dancing at night,” he added.

However, residents have criticized the chiefs for issuing the directive saying they were going against their traditions and their way of life.

“We have not experienced this before and we wonder why the chiefs wants to interfere with the ceremonies,” said Peter Wafula.

He added: The ceremonies would be valueless without singing, dancing and drinking alcohol”.

Daniel Mwaturo Principal at Khasoko Secondary School has asked those involved in the exercise to ensure that boys undergo a cut that would not expose them to risks of contracting HIV/Aids.

“Despite the practice being recognized nationally as away of reducing HIV Aids parents and those involved in it should do it in a more hygienic way instead of subjecting Boys to more tribulations,” he added.

Circumcision is the traditional practices done by the Luhya community during the seven year whereby young boys between ten and fifteen year face the knife as a transition period from childhood to adulthood.