Tension engulfed Rigena village in Nyamache sub-county as area residents on Thursday ran to save their lives after family members engaged in a dispute over the burial of their father.
Trouble began when the second family of the deceased, William Omandi, insisted to have the old man laid to rest in their compound contrary to the Gusii community traditions.
According to eyewitnesses, the siblings of the second family argued that their father had written a will to be buried in the compound as the first family disputed, hence bringing the funeral ceremony to a halt.
“They had a small argument over where the old man would be buried. Two sons of the second wife Mrs. Stella Omandi claimed the right to bury their father contrary to the traditions. The family of the first wife Mrs. Rebecca Omandi disputed and trouble began,” said Mr Dancan Nyaribo.
However, the tension was calmed by elders from the village who opposed the move to bury the old man at the second wife’s compound contrary to the traditions as the second family protested the funeral.
“We had to reach an agreement because it was a serious crisis. As per the tradition, the first family had to bury the old man because the first wife was still alive as per the traditions. These are the traditions and no one should oppose them,” said elder Peterson Rogena.
However, Mr Alfred Okemwa of the second family accused the elders of ‘bias’ and vowed to take the matter to court to compel residents to owner the will of the deceased.