Elders perform rituals ahead of Ntimama burial

Maasai elders on Monday performed traditional rituals to cleanse the family of the late Cabinet minister William ole Ntimama ahead of his final send-off ceremony on Wednesday.

The ceremony that kicked off at around 6.30am took place at the late politician’s Motonyi home where the late veteran politician will be laid to rest.

The elders from his ‘Ilnyangusi’ and ‘Iseuri’ age groups, led by Mzee Lekwale Ole Sadera, slaughtered a special bull for the ritual which holds great traditional significance among the Maasais.

A bull — considered to be special — is to mark the start of the burial ceremony, two days ahead of his burial.

The ritual is commonly conducted to fallen community elders who have attained 70 years and beyond.

In the Maasai culture, a big “sacred bull” with a uniform shade — black in most cases — is picked from the family herd and slaughtered, an indication that the head of the family has passed on.

“The slaughtering of a bull is a symbol of blessings,” said Joseph Maranga an elder.

The big “sacred bull” with a uniform shade — in this case a “brown one” was picked from the family herd and slaughtered, an indication that the head of the family had passed on.

A cleansing ceremony for the family was also conducted.

HOLD PRAYERS

The elders also held prayers for the family as they might not have a chance to do so on the burial day, as the ceremony will be a State function.

”Originally, according to the Maasai culture, fat from the bull is used to smear the body of the dead person, but in the late Ntimama’s case it would not happen since he was a Christian and he will be accorded a Christian burial,” said Mzee Ole Sadera.

Another elder Mzee Parsakei Ngoshosh, who is a traditional Chief for the Ilkirupi age group, said the bull was slaughtered for his age mates and other elders who will bless his body before burial.

“We are not really performing the full-fledged Maasai burial tradition because of the church, the culture has changed, so we are just conducting only this ritual. The rest we will left for the church,” said Mr Martin Ole Kamwaro, also an elder.

Mourners continue streaming into the late politician’s home to console the family ahead of the burial.

Cord leader Raila Odinga who attended the ceremony accompanied by his daughter Ms Rosemary Odinga called for the Maasai community to stand in unity and promote the conservation of the Mau Forest.

“The late Ntimama had the conservation of the Mau Forest at heart. He supported me in the conservation efforts. I urge you to uphold the same spirit,” said Mr Odinga.

He said the veteran politician was behind the creation of the Mau Forest task force that demarcated boundaries of the forest.

The former Prime Minister also noted that Mr Ntimama was his mentor when he first entered parliament, describing him as an intelligent, shrewd leader who taught him a lot in politics.

He urged the community to remain united.