Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o has directed that all funeral processions be hastened in line with the government's directive to limit public gatherings as a measure to curb the spread of Coronavirus.
In a statement on Wednesday, March 18, the governor ordered that all dead persons must be buried within 48 hours of death and attendance limited to close family members only.
Among the Luo community - that forms the majority of Kisumu County's population - burial affects the entire community with relatives travelling from far for the event that provides that every Luo should be buried in the Luo ground - with the most controversial burial arguably being that of criminal lawyer S.M Otieno in 1987.
"In Luoland, burials are taken seriously. Proceedings go on for two weeks before an elderly person is buried. And in that period, people; that is neighbours, relatives, workmates visit the family and condole with them," a community member told Kenyans.co.ke.
"So the directive to scale it down from two weeks to two days is a major hit to the community's way of life," he added.
There are several businesses that thrive around the elaborate Luo burial ceremonies that will take a big hit with the latest directive.
Governor Nyong'o further ordered for the closure of open-air markets in the county, and with immediate effect stopped all market days.
Acting along with the guidelines issued by the national government, Nyong'o called for the immediate suspension of all social gatherings, "including and not limited to sporting, leisure, weddings, night clubs, bars, workshops and seminars and places of worship."
He directed that the public transport vehicles introduce passenger manifests (point of boarding and destination) to aide in tracing contacts.
"Every PSV vehicle and Bodaboda operators must have a handwashing facility. Boda Bodas MUST carry only one passenger at a time," Nyong'o's statement reads in part.
He advised members of the public to exercise extreme caution by maintaining proper hygiene, and all proprietors of public places provide handwashing facilities, running water and soap.
"All service providers; supermarkets, market centres, bus parks, social public parks, shall ensure adequate reticulation of potable water to all public places within Kisumu," the statement reads.
"The public is advised to wash hands with running water and soap as regularly as possible," the statement adds.
The governor informed that the county government had made efforts to provide handwashing facilities in all public settings within the county, with officers conducting routine health talks and education in all health facilities across the county.
Nyong'o directed that visitations to all hospitals would be limited to only two visitors per patient.
