Kijana Wamalwa's soul in the UK?

The family of former vice president Michael Kijana Wamalwa, led by brother and Water CS Eugene, is on a London trip to bring back his “soul”.


Among those who travelled last Saturday were Wamalwa's widow Yvonne, daughter Chichi, son Jabali and cousin UN boss Mukhisa Kituyi.

Family spokesperson Geoffrey Matumbai said it is important to “show respect to the dead by following our traditions,” to ensure the “spirit of the late can be at peace”.

Speaking to the Star on phone, he said the family will be celebrating the life of the leader, who died in 2003 at Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead.

"This will be a special anniversary since it will be marked by an important cultural event called 'Khulotia', whose process has already been initiated,' he said.

The 'khulotia' is a Bukusu ritual which requires the deceased's relatives to slaughter a ram at his place of death to appease spirits, after which they can 'carry' the soul home.

The family then picks a stone from the location of the 'sacrifice' and places it at the burial site.

Matumbai said a memorial service was held at the hospital on Monday, and will be followed by another at the former VP’s Milimani home in Kitale on August 23, when he died.

Via Facebook on Monday, Eugene said; "The preparations began today with a memorial service in London attended by members of his family from Europe, US and Kenya."

He said Kituyi flew in from Geneva, and grandchildren Malaika and Simiyu from Copenhagen, Denmark, to attend the service.

"This will be a moment to reminisce, celebrate and extol the virtues of trust, loyalty, wisdom and truth that Michael Wamalwa espoused in his lifetime and was well known for," he said.