Shikuku’s coffin and grave made eight years ago

He prepared well in advance for his funeral, disregarding frowns of disapproval from a community that believed this would bring about a bad omen.

On Thursday, it was clear that veteran politician Martin Shikuku would be buried in a grave he dug eight years ago in his Bungoma County home.

And the family of the independence era politician said it would also abide by his wishes to be buried in a coffin he bought.

He left four bulls to be slaughtered for mourners and singled out for mention President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

He “will also not be happy” in his coffin if politicians use his burial podium to sing his praises, which they did not after he left Parliament in 1997.

Respect wishes

On Thursday, his son, Stephen, said they would stick to the wishes of their father who died at Texas Cancer Centre, Nairobi, on Wednesday morning.

“We shall respect dad’s wish regarding his resting place,” he said.

Speaking at the Lee Funeral Home where friends and relatives turned up to view the body, Stephen said committee meetings would be held in Nairobi’s South B from Friday to organise a befitting send-off for his father. Mr Shikuku left 16 children.

Stephen said his father started suffering from prostate cancer in 2000 but it worsened this year, and he was admitted to the cancer centre in May.

He said his father’s body would be taken to Butere where he served as MP until 1997 — when he was defeated by Dr Amukowa Anangwe — before being taken to his Bungoma County home for burial.

It is in Bungoma that Shikuku stirred controversy among the Luhya when he dug his grave and bought a coffin, something considered taboo.

Shikuku also dug a grave and bought a coffin for his wife.

The graves were dug almost 50 metres from the main house. One side of the grave yard has been surrounded by a brick wall. In the middle is the grave where he will be buried. It is already labelled JM Shikuku, perhaps to avoid confusion.

On the left, is where his second wife, Beverlyn Ongecha Shikuku, was buried in 1993, while the one on the right is meant for his surviving wife, Fridah N. Shikuku.

On the extreme left is a fresh grave of his daughter who died a fortnight ago. Mr Shikuku did not attend the burial as he could not make it out of his hospital bed.

Shikuku, popularly known as the son of Oyondi, explained that he did not want his relatives and friends burdened with funeral costs upon his death.

He hired young energetic men to help him dig his own grave. He chose the site, took the measurements and decided how deep it should be.

The late Butere MP chose the shape, colour and size of his coffin.

When he did it, Luhya elders were horrified and said that he had dared death, and it would come for him soon. It took eight years coming.