LUMAKANDA, Kakamega — It was never going to be a quiet send-off. Not for Cyrus Jirongo. And certainly not when Senator Boni Khalwale is the chief mourner.

On Monday, the sombre air hanging over Lumakanda was shattered not by wails of grief, but by the thunderous rhythm of Isukuti drums. In a scene that blurred the line between funeral and theatre, Khalwale—the self-styled ‘Bullfighter’—stormed the homestead of the former Lugari MP, transforming a final rite into a defiant cultural statement.

A Warrior’s Entrance

Draped in robes bearing leopard-print spots—a symbol of high warrior status in Luhya lore—Khalwale did not walk; he marched. Flanked by a legion of chanting loyalists brandishing clubs, the Senator wielded a shining torch in one hand and a spear in the other. The symbolism was potent and deliberate.

To the uninitiated, it was a spectacle. To the elders watching from the VIP tent, it was a message. In traditional Luhya rites, a torch at a funeral is often interpreted as a tool to ‘light the way’ for the spirit or, more ominously, to hunt down those who may have had a hand in the deceased’s demise.

“We are not just burying a man; we are planting a seed of truth,” Khalwale declared, his voice rising above the din of the drums. He proceeded to illuminate the casket with the torch, muttering incantations that drew affirmative roars from his entourage.

The Weight of the Bull

The drama did not end with the torch. In a gesture of supreme respect, Khalwale presented a massive bull to the bereaved family. The animal, reportedly named ‘Jirongo’ in honour of the departed, represents the highest form of condolence in Western Kenya—a physical manifestation of the bond between leaders.

• The Regalia: Leopard prints signify authority and fearlessness.
• The Torch: Represents clarity and the exposure of hidden enemies.
• The Bull: A traditional seal of friendship and shared burden.

This cultural display comes against a backdrop of murmurs. Jirongo, a man whose name became synonymous with the high-stakes politics of the 1990s as the face of ‘Youth for Kanu ’92’ (YK’92), remains a figure of immense weight. His passing has triggered not just mourning but intense political whispering regarding the circumstances, with opposition leaders already demanding a rigorous probe.

A Titan’s Final Act

For the residents of Lugari, Jirongo was more than a former MP; he was a titan who once moved mountains with a snap of his fingers. The arrival of his body from wakes in Nairobi and Kitale marked the end of an era. Yet, Khalwale’s intervention ensured that Jirongo’s exit would be as loud and colourful as his life.

As the sun set over Kakamega, the drums continued to beat, a rhythmic reminder that in Luhya land, death is not just an end—it is a transition handled with fire, noise, and unyielding tradition.