The cremation of the late Kibra MP Ken Okoth has elicited mixed reactions among Kenyans. Some people are crying foul over the rate at which African culture is fast losing its values as a result of foreign influence.
Although some support the cremation exercise in relations to the will of the deceased, there are those who believe it is corroding the African culture.
Okoth, whose rich Luo culture respects the death even more than the living, was cremated on Saturday at Kariokor crematorium in an event shrouded in secrecy.
Despite efforts by his mother and some community’s elders to stop the cremation, Ken’s body was at long last cremated amid anger and frustrations from a larger section of Luo community especially from Okoth’s native home in Homabay.
Among those who have expressed their displeasure includes the famous lawyer Miguna Miguna who termed Okoth’s cremation as unfortunate exercise which disrespected African culture.
Miguna cited the example of Jesus Christ and Mohamed who were both buried and not cremated.
“Jesus Christ and Mohamed were buried; not cremated. Americans, French and other Europeans spend billions of dollars to retrieve, return and bury their fallen soldiers in huge cemeteries. There is no African culture that cremates. We must honour our African culture. Period!” Posted Miguna who is still in Canada
Jesus Christ and Mohamed were buried; not cremated. Americans, French and other Europeans spend billions of dollars to retrieve, return and bury their fallen soldiers in huge cemeteries. There is no African culture that cremates. We must honour our African culture. Period!
— Dr. Miguna Miguna (@MigunaMiguna) August 5, 2019
His post was largely echoed by some frustrated Kibra residents who also challenged those advocating for the cremation exercise to tell them who in the bible was ever cremated.
Tell us who in the bible has ever been cremated – Kibra residents express their anger over the late Ken Okoth's cremation. pic.twitter.com/vwwio64dYm
— Daily Nation (@dailynation) August 5, 2019
Many Kenyans also observed that African culture of burying the death should be observed and cremation which is considered a pagan practice aimed at offering sacrifices to their gods should be done away with.
However, there are many who argued that burying the death was neither an African culture but Western’s since Africans used to throw away the death in forests for wild animals to eat them. Here are some reactions;
“There is no African culture that cremates. We must honour our African culture.” ??? Before Wazungu came and brought this thing of burial, many Africans used to throw away dead bodies in the forest. So even burial isn’t African culture. It’s an acquired culture. @HManyora
— K_K (@JamesXbondd) August 5, 2019
Mohamed Dahir Dr miguna ,you are very right.
Africans were thrown to be eaten by wild animals. We just adopted the European way of disposing the dead. Even Jesus was interred in a tomb not buried per say. We will bury you by your choice, respect the choice of others.
— Chris (@Murchrs) August 6, 2019
Angela Tschy There’s no African culture that had burying of the dead. That’s western culture.
African culture was throwing the dead body to the forest to be eaten by animals
Omondi Olewe A white man kicked Jesus into your asses and today you squabble, hate and at times kill because of it. He also introduced burying in some of your communities and today you think burying the dead is a universal African culture . He told you the best wedding is not a black one but a white one and there you are, white wedding is the best for you. He told you that your hair is ugly and like sheep you banned Afros and dreads in all your schools ( except south Africa that has just woken up!)
But then the sheep in you hasn’t figured out they probably told you so because their hairs can’t be configured into different beautiful styles like yours.
Papa I support you on this…You are right! These guys are killing catering firms…Our culture must be respected & dogs also have rights, where do they expect dogs to enjoy bornes as they run up & down….????
— Robert Beardless (@BeardlessRobert) August 6, 2019
I salute you General, why do we pretend that we’re Christians while we don’t follow Him?
— Norbert ochung’ (@NprbertOchung) August 6, 2019
Paul Onyancha I support you my brother, on Jesus’return, those who died believing shall arise first then I wonder, what of those cremated because they are nowhere.
There is no African culture that buries! Ancient Africans threw dead bodies deep into the forest!
— Pius Muthuri (@olemuthuri) August 6, 2019
I wonder, the conscience of subjecting one's carcass to fire with no idea if he has missed hell or not! Mimi siwezi chomeka mara mbili 😅
— angudha Pavloh (@APavloh) August 5, 2019
Africans never used to burrying the dead,they dragged them into the bushes and thickets for the animals to feast on thier remains. Burrying the dead is a western borrowed culture!
— Tàgâyã Ogòssõ 🐊 (@togosso) August 6, 2019