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Luanda Reggae Defenders - what is your long term agenda?

Luanda Reggae Defenders is a now a popular movement with roots in Vihiga and border Siaya and Kakamega counties Attention is brought to the manner and conduct the movement has gained fame and followers, mainly the Youths. The movement capitalizes on funerals. With a poor culture of putting the dead to rest, the Reggae Defenders have taken it by storm and rebranded the infamous ‘Disco Matanga’ – disco at funeral. Reggae Defenders on move. Pic: Charles Rankings: Facebook They mobilize quickly on the day the dead will be discharged from the mortuary. They have this huge old school sound system that is over buzzing to no clear reggae song - that they hire a pickup to carry - and it has a young DJ mainly standing there than mixing anything. Often, against the rules, the casket is grabbed from a hearse vehicle and tied to a motorbike. There it will be swayed and jerk breaked between other motorbikes on the narrow roads. That, is, how a fellow soldier, often a young dead, is mourned. ...

The traditional simplex of Kericho


You would assumpt of Kass Media at Ainap keles in Kericho just a journalistics’ place. It is more: a traditional broadcasting place with more to offer. A Sauna for medicare, a hall for music/gathering, a restaurant, lodge rooms, a swimming pool for recreation and a studio for recording. Including a rest field and a small vegetables farm on the side. 

I appreciated the Sauna, being my first time to see and enter one. A hot-moistured room with medicinal vapour to have you breathing in medicine and sweating what the body wanted out. You do not need to be sick. Viruses and germs are always with us, such a process is healthy every after some time. 

relaxed in the hot vapourized sauna, breathing in and sweating to the herbals

It is an improved “blanket treatment” method where Valogooli would have a sick one closed up inside a blanket with boiled medicine water inside. The persons would sweat out what was ailing them. An older person would hold a younger inside in belief what was stuck in the chest would get out – it did.

I was added that it is best for aged people, a control for HBP, Diabetes, Respiratory track problems, Gastrointestinal issues, Cardiovascular challenges, Skin problems and more. I found it a good therapy, my body relaxed. From a blood pressure of 113/56/66 to 110/69/74 at finish.

Outpatients visit the place often, some boarding to stay in the compound for days as they enter the Sauna daily. And some of the patients have extensive information on matters culture. They now get an opportunity to visit the studio and get interviewed. Kipsigis indigenous knowledge is then broadcasted at the famous Kass Media to the world.

Then to music at the facility. With a band and musical equipment there, for any practicing person. An evening of merry, tuned to old golden songs, live. Healing alike. Today they were singing some traditional Kipsigis music and I was happy for that. I wished I had a day more there.

How sweet for a young person to join in the traditional melodies of ancestors


Kericho is a fairly cold area, rain always hanging in the air. The tea-world environment and trees in the valley bottoms defines the weather as well as the people – a kind hearted Kipsigis tribe. The knit and preserved thickets are a good supply of indigenous medicinal trees. A sunny walk to the tea zones and villages is spectacular. How I wish the tea pickers, in evening cold, would have a sauna in their estate villages.  

A fresh air fiend environment - the vast teazones of Kericho


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