Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji’s act of shooting in the air at a wedding raised mixed reactions on social media.
A number of netizens went ahead to demand for the DPP brother’s arrest
In the undated video, the MC is heard inviting Haji to the podium to give advice to the newlyweds.
Moments later, the former minister shows up with a pistol in his hand and proceeds to fire in the air.
The crowd is heard cheering and clapping as the senator fires his gun. He shot in the air four times.
This incident which has caught many people by surprise is a common practice among the Somali community.
It is still not clear how the practice came to be. However, some sources indicate that it is linked to the European-gun salute tradition.
Here is the video;
According to an online source, the practice is an old tradition that is used to bind two people from different tribes.
An elder from each tribe is selected to shoot in the air to show that they are behind each other and expect to be treated well.
Other occasions that the Somali community mark with celebratory gunfire are graduation and birthday ceremonies.