This archive report was first published on 10 July 2021.
Published on July 10, 2021, a peculiar burial incident unfolded in Kipkenyo, Uasin Gishu county, where a 77-year-old man, Paul Chemng'ok, was laid to rest without a coffin. His body was instead covered with a cowhide, as per his written will.
Chemng'ok's younger brother, Serem Kispsaina, explained that the family adhered strictly to the deceased's wishes, which included no eulogies and no preaching at the burial. 'Before he died on Sunday, he reminded us of how he wanted to be buried. He insisted that there should be no eulogies at the burial, no preaching and that his body be covered with the hide of the bull that would be slaughtered after his death. He wrote all this in a will, and we did exactly as he wished,' Serem said.
Chemng'ok, born in 1944, grew up in Senetwet village, Nandi County, and was known to be a non-believer in any organized religion. 'Chemngok as we used to call him as our elder brother did not believe in any religion be it Christianity or Muslim despite our large family having people who believe in the two religions. He only believed that there was a creator whom he prayed to in his own way,' Serem added.
Despite not believing in any organized religion, Chemng'ok's burial was conducted in accordance with Nandi cultural burial rights, with his body facing east and his head facing his right-hand side.
