LUGARI, Kenya – Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has directed Tiriki elders to go on with their funeral traditions ahead of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo’s burial.
Barasa’s remarks come hours after a section of Luhya leaders insisted that Jirongo’s family should follow their own customs and not be pressured into unfamiliar rituals.
But speaking during the funeral ceremony of Jirongo at Lumaka Township Primary School grounds, Governor Barasa urged the Tiriki elders not to be intimidated by anyone over their involvement in Jirongo’s burial.
“I want to urge our Tiriki elders to continue with their work so that anyone who had a hand in Jirongo’s death is brought to book,” said Governor Barasa.
The county boss also revealed that the Lugari to Manyonyi road, which is under construction, will be named after the late former Cabinet minister
The chair of Jirongo’s funeral committee, former Westlands MP Fred Gumo, has openly opposed the participation of Tiriki elders in several funeral customs, arguing that Jirongo’s family should adhere to their own traditions and not be coerced into strange rites.
How Cyrus Jirongo’s body was received in Kitale
Speaking on Sunday, December 28, 2025, as Jirongo’s body arrived at his Kitale residence, Gumo underlined that the burial ceremonies should be decided by the late politician’s immediate family, including his children and grandkids.
He disapproved of the Tiriki elders’ alleged desire to enforce a ceremonial entry for Jirongo’s body through a makeshift gate built in the house’s backyard in observance of long-standing traditions.
Gumo claims that the Tiriki elders had threatened to leave the house if Jirongo’s body did not pass through the makeshift barrier while they were at the airport. He claims to have reprimanded them, nevertheless.
“Let us not mistreat Cyrus. Hapa ni kwake. Tulikuwa airport, wakatuletea hii maneno ati wazee wamekaa huko wakasema lazima wafungue gate ingine. Mimi mwenyewe niliwakataza, wakasema ati kama Cyrus haingilii kule nyuma, wataenda. Unfortunately, we didn’t have any elders from here, but anyway, vile sasa mimi najua, Cyrus is not a child; ako na boma yake na watoto wake, na wajukuu,” Gumo said.
Outdated funeral traditional customs
He also insisted that some of the customs being suggested were outdated and no longer widely practised.
“Let us have order. Na tafadhali, hii kimila ambayo mnasema ni ya watiriki ilikuwa ya zamani; hata kule kwetu walikuwa nayo, but nobody is doing it anymore. Hawa watoto wanajua kimila ati baba yao anafaa kupitishwa kwa msitu huko? Watajua ni kwanini inafanyika? Ndugu na watoto wa Cyrus, don’t allow to be pushed na mila ambazo hamjui,” Gumo reiterated.
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