Why Tiriki Elders' Suggest Jirongo be Laid to Rest Lying Supine Contrary to Luhya's Burial Customs

A report by the People Daily media report has given a reason why a group of Tiriki Elders' are suggesting that former Member of Parliament who represented Lugari constituency in Parliament late Cyrus Jirongo, to be buried lying the supine, during his official send off ceremony, on Tuesday, 30th December, 2025, at his home in Mbaya village, Lugari Sub-county.

Unknown to many, among the wider Luhya community, when a person is set to be buried, what is considered most important is the position and direction the deceased grave will face, and the position can also be dictated by age, marital status before death type of marriage etcetera.

Normally, those to be laid to rest are mostly buried lying sideways while facing their believed place of origin.

However, the Tiriki Elders' are urging Mr Jirongo's family, to bury the former lawmaker lying supine (flat on the back facing upwards) so that his spirit can haunt those who could have been involved in his death.

Meanwhile, aside from the Tiriki Elders', another group of Elders' who are involved in Jirongo's funeral preparation have affirmed that since the late lawmaker was a polygamous man, he will be laid to rest at his senior wife’s homestead in Lugari.

However his body will visit all the junior wives’ homestead starting from Gigiri home in Nairobi then to Kitale for body viewing and finally to his place of burial in Lugari that has been identified as his first home.