Former Siaya mayor and astute businessman John Orwenjo Umidha will be buried inside his private house known in Luo culture as duol, his family has decided.
The burial will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at his home in Nyachwinya village in Siaya County.
According to Kakan clan elder Abanja Kotieno, to which the late former Siaya mayor belongs, Luo people of Yore buried their elders inside the first wife’s house as a way of protecting the body from wild animals which roamed and would dig out the graves.
Kotieno argued that it was Orwenjo’s wish that his body be interred inside his duol.
In Luo practice, duol was like an office where a polygamous man would sit and settle all family matters.
“Burying an elder inside a house is not a new thing. It is part of Luo culture, only that it was abandoned some years back. In Orwenjo’s case, we are honouring his wish that his body be interred inside his “duol” which, in Luo practice was like an office where a polygamous man would sit and settle all family matters,” he stated.
Orwenjo will be buried facing his gate as per the Luo culture.
Luo culture and beliefs
Kut Ochogo, the Chief officer for Education, Youth and Gender in Siaya county government says the community believes death was just a transition to the next world and that elders would always take care of those he left behind.
“Old men with homesteads would be accorded this rite but women and children would be buried outside on the right or left of the house, depending on the gender,” Ochogo said.
The veteran politician succumbed on the night of Wednesday, September 11, 2024, with his passing coming two months after the demise of his son Wakili Evans Orwenjo.
Prior to his demise, Orwenjo served as the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) chairman for the Alego-Usonga branch.
ODM mourns Orwenjo
While mourning Orwenjo, the ODM party described him as a loyal and active member who spent most of his time strengthening the Orange party.
ODM further stated that he was instrumental in bringing sanity, stability and unity to the party not only in Alego but also in the larger Siaya County.
“We mourn the passing on last night of our Alego-Usonga Branch Chairman Mzee John Orwenjo Umidho after an illness. Mzee was a loyal & and active member of the party and spent most of his time strengthening the party. He was instrumental in bringing sanity, stability and unity, in the party in Alego and the larger Siaya County,” ODM’s condolence message read.
1/2 We mourn the passing on last night of our Alego-Usonga Branch Chairman Mzee John Orwenjo Umidho after an illness. Mzee was a loyal & and active member of the party and spent most of his time strengthening the party. He was instrumental in bringing sanity, stability and unity pic.twitter.com/iUIXV9Xvuz
— The ODM Party (@TheODMparty) September 12, 2024
