A funeral took a disturbing turn in Masawani village after bodaboda riders commandeered the burial ceremony of their colleague Leonard Mutua, alias Mapetko, turning what should have been a solemn occasion into a bizarre and cult-like spectacle.
Mutua died tragically in a head-on collision involving two motorcycles near Kalkiviama bridge between Tala and Kangundo.
What was expected to be a respectful send-off quickly descended into chaos when a large group of bodaboda riders stormed the funeral, sidelined family members and clergy, and took over the burial rites.
Following the church service, a convoy of riders escorted the funeral procession, bringing traffic in Tala town to a halt. At the crash site, Mutua’s father noticed unusual behavior among the riders, who began making strange hand signs and engaging in rowdy conduct.
“There was a woman making signs with her hands. A motorcycle stopped, turned around, and some people climbed onto it,” Mutua’s father recounted.
When the procession reached Masawani village, the riders rejected the funeral table, opting instead to place the casket on two linked motorcycles.
After briefly allowing the church service to continue, the riders abruptly took control, forcing family members and pastors away from the proceedings.
“They started making noise, some took off their shirts, and sent everyone away including the pastors, my wife, and relatives,” the grieving father said.
Shockingly, the riders poured alcohol over the deceased’s body and appeared to force the corpse to ‘smoke’ bhang.
“They opened the casket, poured alcohol on him, and gave him bhang. I don’t know if the body was actually smoking or drinking they know better,” Mutua’s father said.
The procession then made several rounds on motorcycles before throwing sand into the grave.
Local authorities and church leaders have strongly condemned the disturbing conduct. The area Chief vowed that such incidents would not be tolerated.
“If the youth have problems, they should come forward and talk to authorities. What happened will not happen again in our area,” he stated.
The bereaved family has appealed to the government to intervene and prevent similar disrespectful acts in future funerals.
Mutua’s father expressed deep sorrow over being denied the chance to bury his son according to their traditions.
“As a parent, I felt very sad because I was supposed to bury my child with the respect he deserves, but I was cut off,” he lamented.
The shocking events at Masawani village have left the community shaken and raised urgent questions about respect, tradition, and the influence of cult-like behaviors among bodaboda riders.
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