A family in Masewani Village, Kangundo Sub-county, is grappling with trauma and disbelief following the chaotic hijacking of their loved one’s burial by a large group of rowdy boda boda riders and youths over the weekend.
The burial of 24-year-old Leonard Mutua Muema, popularly known as Mapetco, descended into confusion and distress on Saturday after what began as a routine funeral procession turned into a spectacle marked by disorderly rituals, loud music, and substance abuse, acts the family has described as deeply disrespectful and culturally offensive.
Muema tragically lost his life in a head-on collision involving two motorcycles at Kathithyamaa Bridge, situated between Tala and Kangundo. Both riders reportedly died on the spot.
The bizarre funeral drama unfolded roughly 50 kilometers away from the burial site, beginning at the mortuary in Machakos where the body was collected. Eyewitnesses described the convoy, largely composed of boda boda riders, as disruptive, blocking both lanes of the road through Matungulu Sub-county and causing significant traffic snarl-ups. The group made an extended stop at the accident scene, where they held informal rituals before proceeding to the deceased’s home in Masewani Village.
According to the family’s secretary, Mathew Munyaka, what should have been a solemn and respectful ceremony quickly deteriorated into a scene of moral outrage. “The funeral turned disrespectful. Youths performed rituals we didn’t understand, played loud music, and offered beer and bhang to the deceased. The government should not allow such acts during funerals. Families deserve respect,” Munyaka said.
Maiuni Sublocation Senior Assistant Chief, Consolata Ndunge David, confirmed the troubling sequence of events, saying the funeral had started in an orderly fashion but spiraled out of control at the gravesite. “Over 3,000 youths took over the burial. They insisted on conducting their own final rites, opened the casket, and placed beer and bhang inside. This has deeply hurt the family,” she stated, vowing that such behavior would not be tolerated again in Kangundo.
Matungulu MP Stephen Mule strongly condemned the incident, calling it a betrayal of the region’s cultural and religious values. “This behavior is neither African nor Christian. It is morally unacceptable and does not reflect our community’s values. It must never be repeated,” he said.
The deceased’s father, Eric Muema, expressed pain and helplessness as he recounted the ordeal. “From the moment the body was collected, the boda boda riders ignored funeral protocols. They refused to place the casket on a table or trolley. After the service, they carried it on their shoulders, chased away family members, and performed rituals for over an hour. We watched helplessly from a distance,” he recalled.
He added that the presiding minister was barred from accessing the gravesite and that items such as beer, cigarettes, and bhang were placed inside the coffin. “In all my 50 years, I have never witnessed such a thing,” Muema said, appealing to the government to take action and establish clear guidelines to prevent such occurrences.
Pastor Stephen Lai Kilisa, who accompanied the family from the mortuary to the burial, described the entire event as chaotic and spiritually distressing. “They blocked both sides of the road and held strange rituals at the accident scene. When it was time to lay the body to rest, the youths took over forcefully. The situation was terrifying,” he said.
Zenna Kambua, the deceased’s eldest sister, said the family never got to properly say goodbye. “The scenes were chaotic and traumatizing. We were forced to retreat into the house and never even saw how the burial ended,” she lamented.
The family is now calling for justice and firm measures to ensure dignity is maintained during funerals. Many local leaders and residents have joined the call, expressing outrage over the incident and demanding that authorities act swiftly to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
As the dust settles on a burial that was meant to be a moment of healing, the Muema family is left mourning not only the loss of their son, but also the dignity and peace they were denied in his final farewell.
Written By Rodney Mbua
