Senior Anglican Church clerics on Saturday warned politicians against turning the burial of university professor Philip Raburu into a political platform, saying funeral ceremonies should be reserved for mourning and supporting bereaved families.
The Right Reverend Professor David Hellington Kodia of the Diocese of Bondo and the Reverend Bernard Owuor of the Diocese of Maseno East issued the warning during Raburu’s burial at Alendu, Migingo village, in Nyando constituency.
Former Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma and Kisumu Central Member of Parliament Joshua Oron attended the ceremony.
Owuor, who presided over the burial, said politicians had repeatedly taken over funerals for political purposes, disregarding the wishes and grief of bereaved families.
He urged leaders to allow families time to mourn their loved ones, describing mourning as a biblical practice and citing the account of the prophet Ezekiel, whose wife’s death was used as a test of his faith.
Owuor said Christians should seek guidance from God on how to mourn, adding that traditional earthly rites had no place in the kingdom of heaven.
Earlier, Kodia cautioned local politicians against using Raburu’s burial to advance their political interests.
He also told them not to offer money for what he described as “washing their linen. We have the money for washing our linen, so keep your money,” Kodia said.
Oron said he had known Raburu since the professor first joined Maranda High School, describing him as a determined student who worked hard to achieve his goals.
Odungi Randa, chairman of the Luo Council of Elders, urged Luo leaders to reject divisive politics and maintain unity as the country approaches the next general election.
Randa warned leaders against actions that could lead to bloodshed and injuries among young people.
He described Raburu, who served as deputy vice-chancellor at the University of Eldoret until his death, as a humble scholar who mentored many students.
Colleagues and friends from the university remembered Raburu as an accomplished academic who conducted extensive research on wetlands.
His brother, Dr Dan Raburu, an acclaimed surgeon, described him as outgoing, while another brother, former provincial commissioner Peter Raburu, attended the burial with his son Willis, a media personality.
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