Emmanuel Makokha: Family and Friends Mourn Man Who Fell into Grave, Died at Burial as Elders Speak

• A 28-year-old man, Emmanuel Makokha from Busia, collapsed and died after falling into a grave during another person’s burial, shocking mourners
• Makokha reportedly died instantly, and the bizarre nature of his death puzzled many and sparked superstitious explanations
• An elder claimed that in Luhya culture, a man romantically involved with the wife of the deceased risks sudden death if he attends the funeral without cleansing
• His family and friends have, nonetheless, mourned him in moving posts, remembering him as a friend, former schoolmate, and loving family member

The family and friends of a 28-year-old man who collapsed and died in a grave during another person's burial have mourned him in moving posts.

The Busia man, identified as Emmanuel Makokha, was spotted falling into a grave after collapsing and dying instantly in an incident that shocked mourners.

As the incident continues to puzzle many, a Luhya elder spoke to TV47, giving the cultural explanation of the man's sudden death at a burial.

Fuelling the existing superstition among Kenyans who reacted to the incident, the elder claimed that such sudden deaths at a burial occur if the victim allegedly had an affair with the spouse of the deceased whose burial he is attending.

"In the Luhya culture, anyone who was romantically involved with the wife of a deceased person should not attend the burial lest they collapse and die in the same burial," he claimed.

The elder noted that if one must attend the burial under the given circumstances, they must first undergo traditional cleansing from the community elders.

Family and friends mourn Emmanuel Makokha

Taking to social media, his family and friends eulogised him in moving posts, saying he was a kind and talented drummer.

In the condolence messages, many remembered Emmanuel as a friend, schoolmate and family member. Here are some of the condolence messages.

"Yeah, it was in Busia Port Victoria, Marenga Beach. I was there," Mang'amu Wa Mang'amu said while mourning the deceased.

"Rest easy, schoolmate," Philip Jones Ke said.

Phillip Dande

"Till we meet again, Emmanuel happened too soon, nobody knows the hour or the time."

What happened at Budalangi burial?

As earlier reported, Emmanuel was spotted along with the other church members, surrounding the grave of the deceased, moments before the body was lowered.

As one of the drummers, Emmanuel was spotted beating his drum vigorously, unaware that he was in the final moments of his life.

In an instant, he was spotted falling into the grave after collapsing. Three mourners jumped right into the grave to pick him up.

In the viral clip, he was picked up and rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His father was present, and he was the one who was presiding over the burial, which resumed after Emmanuel was taken to the hospital.

Causes of instant collapse and death

Sudden collapse and death can occur without warning, often stemming from underlying medical conditions or acute events that the victim may not know of.

According to information shared by Pace Hospital, this may be caused by a number of conditions which including a sudden cardiac arrest, which occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating due to an electrical malfunction.

A report by PMC shows that Pulmonary Emboli;sm, another cause, occurs when a blood clot blocks a pulmonary artery in the lungs, leading to sudden collapse and death if not promptly treated.

Thirdly, a respiratory arrest, which happens due to the sudden cessation of breathing, can cause instant collapse and death.

The arrest can happen during severe asthma attacks, choking, or drug overuse.

Drama erupts at Kakamega burial

In other news, drama erupted at a village in Kakamega after the mourners attacked the pastor, whom they accused of standing on the grave of the deceased and cursing the family members.

Mourners present accused the pastor of disrespecting cultural burial rites during the funeral, sparking anger from everyone.

This came after the pastor allegedly stopped Joseph Wafula, the father of the deceased, from delivering a heartfelt tribute to his deceased son.

The mourners explained they could not let the pastor continue presiding over the burial due to his disregard for cultural rites.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke