From Disco Matanga to Murder
A family in Alego/Usonga sub-county is seeking justice after the tragic death of their 24-year-old relative, who passed away under mysterious circumstances in Ndere village, Central Alego, on the morning of Friday, October 10, 2025.
Reports suggest that he was killed by friends during a funeral night vigil, known locally as a disco matanga, around 1:00 am.
Confirming the incident, Siaya County police commander Evaline Cherotich stated that the body has been taken to the mortuary at Siaya County Referral Hospital for preservation and a postmortem examination as the investigation continues. The motive behind the killing has not yet been determined.
“The body has been taken to Siaya Referral Hospital mortuary. We are yet to find out the cause of his death, but the detectives are still on the ground,” she told K24 Digital.
His mother, Philister Apondi, shared that her son left home to join his friends for a funeral night vigil in the neighborhood around 10:00 PM on Thursday, October 9, 2025, right after having dinner.
She recounted how a phone call from one of the mourners jolted her awake at about 1 AM, delivering the shocking news. It was then that the alarm was raised, and the area chief was notified.
“At around 1 am in the night, I got a phone call that my fifth son is dead. A few minutes later, some youths stormed my home in the wee hours of the night while wailing that Meshack had been murdered at an adjacent village,” she said.
“I have on several occasions warned Meshack against attending the night vigils, but he ignores me now; he is no more. Together with some neighbours, they rushed to the scene and established that indeed Meshack was dead.”
The incident took place just two weeks after Murkomen had shared a plan with the residents of Siaya, detailing the steps they need to take to tackle the ongoing disco matanga culture that still holds sway in the county.
During a Jukwaa la Usalama meeting in Siaya County on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Murkomen addressed the troubling rise in crime, including defilement, linking it to a deeply rooted practice that he believes is highly valued in the community.
He criticized this culture, pointing out that it has done more harm than good across the broader Western and Nyanza regions. Murkomen called on community members to take initiative in putting a stop to disco matanga before a proposed law aimed at banning it entirely comes into effect.
He proposed that gatherings like Jukwaa la Usalama, which he promised will continue every two to three months even in his absence under local leadership, could play a significant role in reducing this practice. He also highlighted the need for regular public barazas to tackle the issue effectively.
Additionally, he urged the local administration to reach out to grieving families directly, encouraging them to reconsider holding disco matangas and to inform them about the potential repercussions of such activities.
From Disco Matanga to Murder
