Friday, August 29, 2025 — Nairobi, Kenya: Residents of Kawangware witnessed a dramatic and unsettling spectacle after a bus transporting mourners and the body of a deceased man stalled mysteriously on the road, sparking fears and wild speculations.
According to eyewitnesses, the vehicle was en route to western Kenya, popularly referred to as Luyhaland, where the burial ceremony was scheduled to take place. The bus, carrying both the coffin and grieving family members, suddenly broke down in the middle of the busy road. Despite repeated attempts by the driver to restart the engine, the vehicle completely refused to move.
FROM MECHANICAL FAULT TO SPIRITUAL FEARS
What initially seemed like a mechanical breakdown quickly transformed into drama when murmurs among mourners suggested that the deceased had allegedly “refused to go home for burial.”
Some passengers attributed the stalling of the bus to bad omens, while others whispered about witchcraft and unsettled spirits. In African traditional beliefs, it is often thought that a spirit can resist being moved if proper burial rites have not been performed or if there is unresolved family conflict.
DRAMATIC SCENE UNFOLDS
The tension escalated when elders among the mourners advised that everyone should alight from the bus and then re-board one at a time. The strange ritual was believed to help identify the person supposedly “blocking” the journey of the corpse.
Residents of Kawangware crowded around the scene, watching with curiosity as the bizarre practice unfolded. Some were frightened, others amused, while many took out their phones to record videos that have since gone viral on social media.
CULTURAL BELIEFS VS MODERN REALITY
In many Kenyan communities, funerals are not just about laying the dead to rest; they are deeply tied to spiritual traditions and cultural rituals. Such incidents often highlight the tension between modern explanations, like mechanical faults, and traditional interpretations, such as witchcraft or spiritual resistance.
Sociologists explain that while mechanical issues are the most likely cause, communities often interpret unusual events during funerals as supernatural signs. These beliefs continue to influence how families handle burials in rural and urban Kenya alike.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
After several tense minutes, the bus was eventually restarted following the ritual of re-boarding, much to the relief of the mourners. The journey to the burial site continued, though with heightened caution and lingering unease.
The incident has since become a subject of debate online, with many Kenyans sharing mixed opinions:
- Some argue it was simply a mechanical hitch exaggerated by cultural fears.
- Others insist the deceased was indeed showing resistance to the burial.
