Roles of Ritual Performers in Tachoni Last Rituals for Transition of the Dead to the Spirit World in Western Kenya

This paper investigates the roles of ritual performers during last rituals for transition of the dead to the spirit world among the Tachoni community of Western Kenya. Drawing on ritual theory and informed by the works of Turner and Bell, the study examines the network of individuals whose actions underpin the execution of funeral rites and the facilitation of spiritual transition. A qualitative research design was employed, utilising in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and questionnaires to collect data from 200 purposively selected participants in Ndivisi location, Bungoma County. Data were analysed through thematic analysis and triangulated for validation. The findings reveal five categories of ritual performers: family members (98%), community elders (94%), ritual specialists (91%), religious leaders (84%), and other performers such as musicians and professional mourners (71%), each fulfilling distinct yet complementary functions. Performer roles have undergone notable adaptation in response to modernisation (92%), religious influences (88%), and economic pressures (86%), while retaining core spiritual and cultural functions. New roles have also emerged, including funeral coordinators (76%), grief counsellors (69%), and social media memorial managers (64%). The paper concludes that Tachoni ritual performers serve as cultural agents who facilitate the deceased’s passage while sustaining the community’s collective memory. The study recommends documentation projects, intergenerational transmission programmes, and policy protection of Tachoni funeral rituals as intangible cultural heritage.