Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has outlined a roadmap for Siaya residents on what they must do to curb the disco matanga culture that remains prevalent in the county.

Speaking during a Jukwaa la Usalama meeting in Siaya County on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Murkomen linked the rising cases of crime, including defilement, to the practice, which he said is highly cherished in the area.

He castigated the culture, noting that it has caused more harm than good in the wider Western and Nyanza regions, urging community members to take the lead in curbing disco matanga before the enactment of a proposed law that seeks to ban it completely.

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Murkomen suggested that such forums as Jukwaa la Usalama, which he pledged will continue every two to three months even in his absence under local leadership, could help reduce the practice. He also emphasised the importance of regular public barazas in addressing the issue.

He further urged the local administration to engage bereaved families directly and discourage them from holding disco matangas while also explaining the possible consequences of the activity.

The issue of disco matanga has increasingly become a point of contention during Murkomen’s Jukwaa la Usalama forums in Western and Nyanza counties.

Disco matanga in Homa bay

While speaking during a Jukwaa la Usalama meeting in Homa Bay on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, he expressed concern about how defilement cases have escalated in the county, with most cases emanating from disco matangas, which continue to be practised despite them having been banned.

“Defilement is a big issue in Homa Bay County; the prevalence of defilement cases here is promoted by cultural practices, which include disco matanga, which has been banned in this area,” Murkomen said.

He further urged the Homa Bay locals to report incidences of defilement to relevant authorities and not to conceal them since, according to Murkomen, the perpetrators are mostly relatives of the victims.

“These are high crimes; we do not want the community to hide the perpetrators, as some of the reasons why they hide them are because some are relatives,” Murkomen noted.