By Frank Kamuntu
A Christmas celebration took a dark and tragic turn in Kakamega county as Dancan Barasa, 36, was brutally attacked and killed by his own brothers, Boniface Ogore and Jacob Andanje.
The incident unfolded on Christmas Eve when Barasa, who had just returned from the city for the festive season, decided to pay homage to his late mother by singing and dancing on her grave.
Adding to the unconventional ritual, he also enjoyed a meal of pork on the sacred site.
This choice of celebration proved fatal, as his brothers, reportedly angered by what they deemed a breach of cultural norms, launched a violent attack on Barasa.
The assault, involving a panga and a crude metal rod, resulted in deep cuts and severe bleeding, leading to Barasa’s immediate death.
Kakamega Central Sub-County Police Commander Valerian Obore confirmed the arrest of one suspect, a 33-year-old man, and announced an ongoing manhunt for the other brother who fled the scene.
The deceased’s sister, Agnes Anyona, shed light on the motive behind the gruesome attack.
According to Anyona, her brother’s act of dancing on the grave and consuming pork irked his siblings, who claimed it was against their cultural beliefs.
“He had just arrived from the capital city and went to see his friends, and when he arrived home, he went straight to the grave of our late mother and started dancing while eating the meat,” said Anyona.
“When my other two brothers heard about it, they were annoyed, alleging that it was against cultural beliefs,” added Anyona.
Grace Lutatwa, the deceased’s aunt, recounted the tragic scene, expressing the community’s shock and disbelief.
“My nephew was seriously injured because the two pounced on him with panga and crude metal. We tried to save him, but we were overwhelmed, and it is so sad that I saw my nephew killed without having much to do,” she said.
As the investigation continues, the Kakamega community grapples with the aftermath of a Christmas celebration that turned deadly, highlighting the complex interplay of cultural traditions and personal sensitivities within families.
