Relatives and locals carrying the body of teh late king in a specially designed coffing to hold him in a sitting position. [Photo|John Kabaka|west Fm]

The king of one of the Wanga kingdoms who passed on last week Wambani Rapando will be laid to rest this Saturday while seated as per the tradition of his community. 

According to the elders of the community led by chairman Mzee Aura Lutomia the king will be buried in a casket made of a cow skin inside a grass thatched house.

However the family has insisted the body will be buried in the specially designed coffin citing health risks. As well, the family seems to have broken from the culture as the service is said will be led by a church leader opposed to traditional religious leaders.

The grass thatched hut where the late Wanga king wil be burried in a sitting position.

Business in the busy Mumias town was at halt on Thursday evening when the body of the late king was being moved from the St Mary’s Mumias Mortuary.

Long traffic jam was witnessed in town as the body was escorted with a convoy that has never been witnessed in Mumias town before.

The late King was ferried seated in a special coffin that is said to have cost almost Ksh70,000.

Regardless of how the body was carried home in a special expensive coffin, according to the elders, the expensive coffin will be burnt immediately after his burial as he will be buried in a traditional one made of a cow skin.

The funeral will be attended by the high and mighty from the entire nation in his home village of Emulambo, Wanga East Division in Mumias, Kakamega County.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga will lead the legislators from within and out of the region in a special send off of the late king.

The Wanga community has two kingdoms the one led by the late William Wambani Rapando and the other one led by King Nabongo Peter Mumia the second. (inset)

The king has left behind 3 widows; Mary Wamboko Wambani, Julia Nanzala Wambani and Maria Adipo Wambani with 31 children but only 25 are still alive.