28 years old man made a 'real man'

A 28 years-old man was yesterday forcibly made to undergo a cut in Ilesi in Shinyalu Kakamega.

 Edwin Amboso a pottery was nabbed in Ilesi market center and forcibly ‘made a real man’ by a traditional circumciser.

This follows the ongoing Western Kenya bi-annual traditional ritual circumcision.

"I was alerted this morning through phone call by a woman that we have a man who has not shed off his fore skin in this market. I then took a motorbike and knife to come and usher him into manhood," said Francis Likhovera, the circumciser.

The man of the moment was later paraded along the Kisumu-Kakamega Highway next to where he makes pots to receive presents for undergoing the ritual pursuant to the traditional circumcision customs.

He was offered a leso by a lady in the market, a wrapper he proudly wrapped around his west and hobbled to the nearest kiosk to avoid the scotching mid-day sun.

"What do you want me to say and you have seen, I Amboso and was circumcised this morning," seemingly shy father of two said.

With blood tripling down his legs, the newly initiated man struggled to maintain a straight face as pain gripped him.

Traditionally, a Luhyia man is not supposed to shed a tear when circumcised.

With people mingling to witness and reward “Imbangala” an old man circumcised in Luhya dialect, Amboso received gifts worth Sh. 250 on top of Sh. 100 fare to take a motorbike to his home.

The prize consisted of a loaf of bread, tea leaves, Ng'ombe petroleum Jelly, half a kilo of sugar and a bar-soap.

His boss at the pottery Jacob Mate, said he was not aware that Mr. Amboso was a 'kid' in the years he has worked as a casual laborer for him.

"We are happy that Amboso has now graduated to a man. He has worked for me for over five years yet I had no clue he was uncircumcised because you cannot go peeping on a man to check whether he is cut or not," said Mate.

Fellow casual labobourers whispered to him on the dos and don'ts when nursing his new look manhood.

“Please avoid 'Omena' as the plague and don't look direct into a woman's eye," Whispered Francis Mumia his working mate.

Omena is a dish associated with those who fear the knife whereas looking at a woman may cause the 'male member' unnecessary injury at the time of healing after circumcision, says an old man at the scene.
The circumciser was paid Sh.50 by Ambos's boss to 'wash hands' and will return for Sh.1000 when Amboso heals from the circumcision wound, according to Luhyia customs.

"I inherited this circumcising exercise from my father in 1987 and have since been circumcising all these years, Amboso's skin was however tough forcing me to use a razor rather than a knife," said the traditional circumciser waving a razor and knife in both hands.