- Rabai MP Kenga Mupe has suspended his free hearse and hospital transportation services, citing claims from critics that the initiative was “promoting death”
- The controversial decision, which takes effect in January 2025, will pause the Chapa Kazi program for six months
- Meanwhile, the MP defended the initiative’s intentions, emphasizing that it was meant to ease medical costs, not encourage a fixation on funerals
Rabai MP Kenga Mupe has found himself in the crosshairs of criticism after announcing the suspension of free hearse and hospital transportation services under his flagship Chapa Kazi initiative.
The move, set to take effect in January 2025, comes after sections of his constituents and netizens accused the program of “promoting death” rather than offering genuine assistance.
Speaking at a public event on Sunday, Mupe revealed that the suspension would last for six months, during which he plans to assess the program’s impact and decide its future.
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“Starting January 1, all hospital transportation services I had provided for the sick and deceased will be paused as we figure out the way forward,” the MP stated, highlighting the controversy that has surrounded the initiative despite its two-year success.
Mupe’s Chapa Kazi trucks, initially praised for easing medical transportation costs, now face backlash from critics who claim the services have cast a shadow of negativity over the region.
“We want to save lives, not be seen as agents of death,” Mupe remarked, responding to claims that the hearses inadvertently encourage a focus on funerals rather than health interventions.
The announcement has sparked heated debate, with some residents lauding the initiative for its practicality, while others argue it perpetuates a culture of dependency and an unhealthy fixation on death rituals.
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Meanwhile, Mupe turned to his social media page to explain that the decision was made in consultation with local stakeholders, following growing discontent among some community members.
Adding to the event’s drama, Deputy County Commissioner Joseph Lengarie issued a stern warning to chiefs still allowing disco matanga festivities in their jurisdictions.
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Lengarie, echoing concerns from national authorities, linked the late-night funeral dances to rising cases of teenage pregnancies, substance abuse, and gender-based violence.
This isn’t the first time Rabai’s cultural practices have come under scrutiny.
A previous ban on disco matanga by former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i divided opinions, with some leaders, including the late Rabai MP William Kamoti, opposing the move, arguing it interfered with long-standing traditions.
