Vihiga acting county commissioner has warned residents against engaging in ‘disco matanga’.
Disco matanga is a dance event organised during vigils by most communities in Kenya as they wait to bury their loved ones.
Community members, youth and children engage in the overnight celebrations at the deceased person’s homestead.
In most cases, it starts and lasts as long as the funeral arrangements are underway mostly around two weeks with the night before the burial being the peak.
Commissioner Florence Sitawa said the night-time dance ceremonies are an additional cost to the bereaved.
She further said that disco matanga events provide condusive environments for drug use and immorality among young people to thrive.
“Katika hii county, haturuhusiwi kufanya disco matanga,” she said.
(In this county, we are not allowed to hold disco matanga)
Commissioner Sitawa spoke during an open air meeting with residents at Inyanza Primary School in Vihiga subcounty.
The county commissioner vowed to firmly deal with those organising disco matanga.
“Naona tumerudi katika ile desturi zetu za kuleta mwili, tunataka kuwalaza kwa maboma zetu siku mbili, siku mbili tuko na raha ya kukula hata kama tunalia yaani budget,” she said.
(We have gone back to the culture of bringing our loved ones home and holding two to three-day vigils. In those two days we have to eat and that adds to our sorrow in terms of budget)
“Siku hizi tunafanya outside catering. Tunaweka disco matanga ambayo kwa siku ni Sh20,000 kwa siku tatu ni Sh60,000. Alafu maovu yote inaingilia na disco matanga. Dawa za kulevya na usherati utafanywa hapo,” the county commissioner said.
(Nowadays we hire outside catering services Sh20, 000 per day and hold disco matanga and that’s Sh60, 000 in three days. During such events, young people engage in drug abuse and immorality)
The acting county commissioner said that children are the most vulnerable lot because they are curious to experience what happens in the ceremonies.