A family in Alego Usonga, Siaya County, is seeking justice following the mysterious death of their 24-year-old kin, who was allegedly killed during a funeral night vigil, popularly known as a disco matanga, at Ndere village in Central Alego location.
According to family accounts, the young man, identified as Meshack Otieno, attended the vigil on Thursday night together with his peers. He had taken supper at home before leaving for the neighbouring village at around 10 p.m. However, at around 1 a.m., his mother, Philister Apondi, received a distressing call from one of the mourners informing her that her son had died. Moments later, neighbours and youths rushed to her home wailing, confirming that Meshack had been murdered.
Heartbroken, the mother said she had repeatedly warned her son against attending disco matangas due to the growing insecurity and criminal activities often reported at such gatherings. She and other villagers rushed to the scene, where they found Meshack’s lifeless body. His body was later taken to the Siaya County Referral Hospital mortuary for preservation and postmortem examination as investigations continue.
Police officers have launched investigations into the incident, although the motive behind the killing remains unclear. Detectives are pursuing leads to establish whether the death resulted from a confrontation or other criminal activity linked to the night vigil.
The incident comes amid rising concerns over insecurity in Siaya County, with authorities linking many violent incidents and moral decay to disco matangas. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen recently warned against the practice, citing its contribution to increased crime, drug abuse, and sexual offenses among the youth in the region.
During a recent security forum in Siaya, Murkomen called for stronger community involvement to curb the trend. He urged local leaders, chiefs, and elders to work closely with bereaved families to discourage holding night vigils that involve loud music and alcohol consumption. He further noted that the government was considering legislation to regulate or ban the practice entirely.
Meshack’s death has reignited calls for stricter enforcement of public order laws to prevent similar tragedies. His family, now mourning the loss of their fifth son, is pleading with the authorities to ensure that those responsible for his killing are brought to justice.
