DNK International By Shitsili Kulabi,Kakamega.
The bull fighting fraternity in Kakamega County is embroiled in a major tussle over whether to accord a famous bull owner that was killed a week ago the highest honour of a bull fighting contest.
One faction led by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale is opposed to the holding of a revered bull fighting contest in honour of Josephat Bitute Milimu whose burial is scheduled for Saturday July 4.
Dr. Khalwale, who is the fraternity’s long serving Patron, argues that the bull fighting contest known locally as “shilembe” should not be held in honour of Milimu owing to the circumstances surrounding his death.
He said though the deceased was a towering and committed member of the fraternity, he could not be honoured through “shilembe” as harm would continue to torment his family.
“Shilembe is not the normal bull-fighting contests that we hold just for competitions and tourism. This one is guided by the spirits of our forefathers,” said Khalwale.
“And such an honour can not be bestowed upon a person whose death is still shrouded in mystery. If we do so, then we will be destroying his young family as they will be tormented by evil spirits which will be taking their lives through such circumstances,” he added.
The Senator also suggested that the deceased be laid to rest by his maternal uncles in line with the Luhya traditions.
But another faction led by a retired Chief Charles Mwayuli Mbakaya insisted that the slain bull owner be honoured with the “shilembe”.
“Josephat was a committed member of the bull-fighting fraternity and he should be accorded a decent send-off and honoured with a ‘shilembe’ to appease his soul and appreciate him for the good work he did for us,” he added.
Mbakaya, who hails from Milimu’s Bamakhaya clan of the Isukha sub-tribe, said there was no rule that barred a bull owner that had been killed in mysterious circumstances not to be honoured by a bull-fighting contest.
Tension remains high amid heated exchanges between the two opposing groups raising fears of chaos at his funeral.
The bull-fighting fraternity was thrown into mourning following the killing of Milimu by a lynch mob.
Mystery still surrounds the murder of the bull owner by a mob that claimed he was found with a stolen cow at Ilesi area along the Kakamega-Kisumu Highway.
But others continue to disput the account claiming that Milimu, popularly known as CID, was targeted by a group of rival groups after his champion bull named “Shakahola” defeated theirs to claim the county crown.
“CID is a habitual and dreaded cattle rustler and this is not the first time he is being found in possession of stolen animals,” said a resident on condition of anonymity.
“There was a time he was arrested and when the local administration and police frog-matched him to his house they found a number of freshly slaughtered animals hanging in the bedroom,” he added.
Another one said ‘CID’ was part of a cartel that stole heads of cattle, slaughtered them and supplied them to local butcheries.
He said the cartel was so powerful and ruthless that it would even write letters to owners of animals ordering them to leave them out so that they could pick them.
Those who failed to honour the instructions were killed and the animals taken away.
“The residents decided to kill him because he had been arrested many times, charged in court and released after paying the fines. Sometimes he never made it to the courts after compromising the security officers,” he added.
Milimu had allegedly stolen the animal in the neighbouring Lurambi Constituency and had made it to his home in Shinyalu Constituency unaware that he was being pursued.
But his supporters alleged that he was a targeted man after his bull was crowned the Kakamega County champion.
“Many people were not happy because his bull, ‘Shakahola’ was the champion. So they just took advantage of the theft issue to end his life,” claimed one.
Shinyalu police boss Daniel Mukumbu said investigations were still ongoing to ascertain the real cause of the murder.
“We are yet to establish the motive of his murder to this date. That is why we shall release the body for burial,” he added.
Mukumbu said the deceased’s body is still lying at the Kakamega County Funeral Parlour ahead of burial at his Ludodo village home in Shinyalu.
[DNK-International@June 30,2026]
