Governor Jonathan Lelelit: Samburu women resurrect the Blood Moon with songs and prayers
Samburu Governor Jonathan Lati Lelelit has said that women from his community must engage in songs and prayers during a lunar eclipse because they believe the moon is dead and can only be resurrected through their rituals.
Speaking to a local TV station on Sunday, September 7, 2025, during the rare blood moon and Saturn alignment, Lelelit explained the cultural practice that has been passed down for generations.
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He noted that after the appearance of the phenomenon, villages across Samburu will be filled with chants and melodies as women carry out the ancient custom. The community believes that by the following day, the moon will inevitably resurrect, shining again as a result of their devotion.
“Samburu’s believe that during the full eclipse, the moon is dead. And when it’s dead, there is a special song that is sung by only women, and they pray to God so that they can resurrect the moon. If you go to the villages here in Samburu, the women are already singing, and I can tell you for sure, tomorrow, the moon will have resurrected,” Lelelit said.
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Samburu was also singled out as one of the best places to experience the celestial wonder.
“Tonight, Kenya witnesses a rare celestial spectacle, a blood moon and Saturn alignment lighting up our skies. Why Samburu? It is one of the best places on earth to look up,” the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) observed.
The agency added that Kenya’s landscapes go beyond wildlife tourism and are increasingly becoming important for stargazing and astronomy experiences.
“From Taita Hills to Mt. Kenya, to our beaches and Samburu, Kenya’s wild spaces are not just home to incredible wildlife, but also gateways to the stars,” KWS said.
The blood moon and Saturn alignment were visible across Kenya from 8:30 pm until the early hours of September 8. However, Samburu’s remote location, dark skies, and clear equatorial atmosphere offered one of the most spectacular views of the rare event.
A blood moon happens when sunlight refracts through the Earth’s atmosphere during a lunar eclipse, casting a deep red glow over the moon.
