Religious and political leaders in Kakamega County have renewed calls for a ban on disco matanga and night dances following the fatal stabbing of a young man at a funeral vigil in Ubulechia on Saturday night. The leaders want security agencies to enforce the directive issued by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to prohibit disco matanga and night dances, citing rising insecurity and the negative impact of the practice on young people.
Rev Timothy Mganda, a Lubinu Anglican Church priest, urged religious denominations to work closely with security agencies to ensure that night dances are not allowed during funeral vigils. He condemned the violence witnessed at a funeral vigil in Vilecha, where a group of youths reportedly stormed the gathering at night and attacked mourners with machetes and blunt objects, killing one young man and robbing mourners of their belongings.
Rev Mganda called on the government to investigate the group behind the attacks and establish who was financing or sponsoring its activities. He also urged local security officials to work with religious leaders and the community to develop measures to curb insecurity associated with night dances. His concerns were echoed by former Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali, who said disco matanga had no benefits for bereaved families, neighbours or the wider community.
Washiali said that during his tenure as a legislator, he did not support the practice and called on the area's current MP to engage the Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) and the Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) to find a lasting solution to the problem. He argued that the practice had contributed to violence and negatively affected the education of school-going children who attended the night dances.
Washiali further warned that the involvement of school-going children in night dances could affect their academic performance. He said that the fights associated with disco matanga were unnecessary and that our children, who should be in school, attend these night dances, and this also affects their performance in school.
Last year, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen ordered a crackdown on criminal gangs and a ban on night vigils during a week-long visit to the Western region. The renewed calls come amid growing concerns over insecurity during funeral gatherings in parts of Western Kenya, with leaders urging security agencies to enforce existing restrictions on night dances and protect mourners.
The leaders said concerted efforts by the government, religious organisations and local communities were necessary to prevent further loss of lives and restore security during funeral vigils. They emphasized that disco matanga does not benefit anyone and that it is crucial to find a lasting solution to the problem to ensure peace and security in the region.
Key points
- The leaders want security agencies to enforce the directive issued by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to prohibit disco matanga and night dances.
- Rev Timothy Mganda urged religious denominations to work closely with security agencies to ensure that night dances are not allowed during funeral vigils.
- Former Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali said disco matanga had no benefits for bereaved families, neighbours or the wider community.
