Why Dralon Kanga Was Buried at Night: Inside Maragoli Traditions Around “Unusual” Deaths

The burial of Dralon Kanga from Masana, Vihiga County, has sparked public discussion after she was laid to rest at night, a practice that many outside the community found unusual. SEE FULL DETAILS IN THE VIDEO.

However, within sections of the Maragoli community, such burials are guided by long-standing cultural beliefs tied to the nature of death.

According to these traditions, not all deaths are treated in the same manner. Certain deaths—especially those considered violent, sudden, or traumatic—are viewed differently from natural deaths. 

These include cases involving murder, suicide, drowning, or other circumstances considered deeply distressing for the family and community.

In Dralon Kanga’s case, reports indicate she died under violent circumstances, which places her burial within what elders describe as “heavy” or “unclean” deaths. 

Because of this classification, some traditional practices recommend that burial ceremonies be conducted quietly and sometimes at night.

Community elders explain that night burials are not meant to conceal the process or exclude family members, but rather to handle the situation in a respectful and controlled manner. 

The belief is that such deaths carry emotional and spiritual weight, and therefore require a more subdued approach.