A funeral in Marenga village, Budalangi Constituency, Busia County turned tragic after a man collapsed and died beside the grave amid claims he had an affair with the deceased’s wife.
Emmanuel Makokha, a devoted choir member, was playing a church drum near the graveside when he suddenly collapsed and fell into the open grave of the deceased. The shocking incident, which unfolded in front of mourners, brought the ceremony to a sudden halt.
Emmanuel, son of the presiding pastor, was rushed to Port Victoria Subcounty Referral Hospital, where he was declared dead upon arrival.
While church members described his death as part of God’s timing, citing Ecclesiastes 3 that “there is a time for everything,” local Bunyala elders attributed the death to cultural retribution. They claimed Emmanuel’s collapse was caused by a spiritual punishment for allegedly engaging in an affair with the deceased’s wife.
“In our Luhya traditions, someone who had an affair with the deceased’s spouse should never attend their burial,” said elder Ekesa. “If they do, they risk collapsing and dying on the spot. This is a clear case of cultural justice.”
The elders further stated that Emmanuel should have consulted them for traditional cleansing if he had concerns about attending the funeral. They claimed herbal remedies exist to protect individuals from such occurrences.
The funeral resumed after a short delay, while Emmanuel’s body was taken to the hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination to establish the official cause of death.
Written by, Seth Ngero
