Laws to regulate funeral marches, burials coming
A section of the crowd that turned up at the Jomo Kenyatta sports ground where the casket bearing the remains of Homabay Senator Otieno Kajwang briefly stopped before heading for Waondo in Homabay on November 27, 2014. A number of counties plan to enact laws to regulate funeral processions and burials following complaints that the ceremonies interfere with school programmes and businesses. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO
What you need to know:
- Nyamira Governor John Nyagarama said burying the dead on Fridays, in the SDA-dominated areas of Gusiiland, reduced the time spent on learning.
- The Kisumu County Assembly passed a Motion in August to bar funeral processions from the town centre, saying they disrupt business.
- Kakamega County Leader of Majority Robert Makhanu said the assembly was preparing a Bill that would regulate the ceremonies.
A number of counties plan to enact laws to regulate funeral processions and burials following complaints that the ceremonies interfere with school programmes and businesses.
Kisumu, Vihiga and Kakamega are set to pass Bills to ensure that burials do not disrupt residents’ activities.
Nyamira Governor John Nyagarama said burying the dead on Fridays, in the SDA-dominated areas of Gusiiland, reduced the time spent on learning.
“Many teachers don’t work on Fridays as they attend funerals, while children are forced to stay at home as their schools are used for funeral services,” Mr Nyagarama told the Nation in a past interview.
The Kisumu County Assembly passed a Motion in August to bar funeral processions from the town centre, saying they disrupt business.
“The processions through the town centre during weekdays adversely affect business. This Motion seeks to bar these people from passing through the central business district,” said Mr Jackton Onunga, the Tourism committee chairman.
Funeral processions will be banned from passing through the town and anyone who breaks the rule will be liable to a fine of Sh15,000 or six months in prison.
NOISY AFFAIRS
In Vihiga, the problem is not about the processions but the availability of burial land.
Leader of Majority Andrew Ahuga said a Motion requiring the county government to build a public cemetery would soon be tabled in the House.
“We have been burying the dead on our arable land. As a result, we have lost land on which to plant our crops. We need land for agriculture to enable us to feed the county,” he said.
Kakamega County Leader of Majority Robert Makhanu said the assembly was preparing a Bill that would regulate the ceremonies.
“The processions become a nuisance when the participants pass through the town centre, with the people making a lot of noise. The Bill will put in place mechanisms to stop that,” he said.
The Kakamega Assembly passed a Motion to compel the county government to build a public cemetery in each of the sub-counties.
“We realised that the residents who bury their loved ones on their farms can no longer do any kind of farming on the land. This calls for the establishment of a public cemetery for each sub-county,” Mr Makhanu added.
