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A 28-year-old man, Emmanuel Makokha from Busia, collapsed and died after falling into a grave during another person’s burial, shocking mourners
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Apparently, Makokha passed away immediately, which left numerous people bewildered and led to various superstitious theories about what happened.
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An elder claimed that in Luhya culture, a man romantically involved with the wife of the deceased risks sudden death if he attends the funeral without cleansing
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His family and friends have, nonetheless, mourned him in moving posts, remembering him as a friend, former schoolmate, and loving family member
Family and friends of a 28-year-old man who tragically passed away in a gravesite during someone else’s funeral service expressed their grief through heartfelt tributes.
The Busia man, identified as Emmanuel Makokha, was spotted falling into a grave after collapsing and dying instantly in an incident that shocked mourners.
As the incident continues to puzzle many, a Luhya elder spoke to TV47, giving the cultural explanation of the man’s sudden death at a burial.
Fuelling the existing superstition among Kenyans who reacted to the incident, the elder claimed that such sudden deaths at a burial occur if the victim allegedly had an affair with the spouse of the deceased whose burial he is attending.
“In Luhya tradition, individuals who were romantically linked to the widow of someone who passed away are forbidden from attending the funeral; otherwise, they might collapses and dies at the gravesite,” he stated.
The senior member emphasized that should someone find themselves required to be present at the funeral under these conditions, they must initially go through a customary purification ritual conducted by the community elders.
Family and friends grieve over the loss of Emmanuel Makokha
On social media, both his family and friends honored him with heartfelt messages, describing him as a gentle and skilled percussionist.
The condolences shared recalled Emmanuel as a dear friend, classmate, and part of their family. Below are some of these heartfelt messages.
“Yes, it happened at Busia Port Victoria, Marenga Beach. That’s where I was,” Mang’amu Wa Mang’amu stated during his grief over the loss.
“Calm down, classmate,” Philip Jones Ke remarked.
Phillip Dande
Until our next meeting, Emmanuel came too early, as no one knows when or at what time.
What occurred during the funeral at Budalangi?
As previously mentioned, Emmanuel was seen alongside fellow churchgoers gathered around the gravesite of the departed just prior to the interment.
As one of the drummers, Emmanuel was spotted beating his drum vigorously, unaware that he was in the final moments of his life.
Immediately, he was noticed toppling into the grave upon collapsing. Three attendees leaped into the grave to lift him up.
In the widely shared video, he was lifted up and hurried to the medical facility, arriving deceased.
His dad was there, and he took charge of the funeral proceedings once they continued following Emmanuel’s departure for the hospital.
Reasons for sudden fainting and fatality
A sudden collapse leading to death might happen unexpectedly, frequently due to hidden health issues or severe incidents that the person could be unaware of.
Based on data provided by Pace Hospital, this could stem from several conditions, one of which is sudden cardiac arrest. This happens when the heart abruptly ceases to beat because of an electrical disturbance.
According to a report by PMC, Pulmonary Embolism can occur when a blood clot obstructs a pulmonary artery within the lungs, potentially causing abrupt collapse and fatality if immediate treatment is not provided.
Thirdly, a respiratory arrest, occurring because of the abrupt stoppage of breathing, can lead to immediate collapse and fatality.
Severe asthma attacks, choking episodes, or drug misuse can lead to an arrest.
Conflict arises during the funeral in Kakamega
Elsewhere, a commotion unfolded in a village located in Kakamega when the attendees assaulted a pastor who was alleged to have stood on the grave of the departed and cast curses upon the family members.
During the funeral, mourners alleged that the pastor had disrespected traditional burial customs, igniting widespread outrage among those present.
Following this, the pastor apparently prevented Joseph Wafula, the father of the late son, from giving an emotional speech about his departed child.
The attendees stated they couldn’t allow the pastor to proceed with the funeral because he had ignored their cultural customs.
