Residents of Sachangwan in Nakuru County were left in shock on Friday, after witnessing an unusual burial of one of their neighbours.
The deceased, 88, was buried in his old mattress and blanket as per his wish.
Residents were left in shock after Joseph Kiama, who died on Monday, was buried early in the morning, which is not normal. Locals were also blocked from attending the funeral service.
"We are used to burials being conducted in the afternoon and as planned we went to the home in the midmorning. At the gate we found some youths who told us to keep off the home," said James Wainaina, a resident.
Area chief John Chepkwony, the only administrator who was allowed in the home, said that the deceased was also not taken to the mortuary after death.
He told the locals that the deceased had instructed his kin not to spend money feeding mourners.
The administrator said that fearing that a curse would befall them, his relatives honoured his instructions.
"The family used traditional means of body preservation which included a wet bed made of charcoal and sawdust. We had issued them with a burial permit but locals pleaded with them that he should be buried in a coffin," he said.
Members of the press were also blocked from getting comments from the family by a group of youths deployed to man the gate.