Maasai elders slaughtered a special bull on Sunday in honour of the late former cabinet minister William ole Ntimama.
This was in line with the community's tradition to symbolise the start of the set to climax on Wednesday.
If the late Ntimama was not a born-again Christian, the elders said fat from the bull would have been applied on his body by his first born.
The elders - of Ilnyangusi age set - performed the ceremony at the former Narok North MP's Motonyi home, in what they hailed as an act befitting their peer.
Ntimama belongs to the age group and only people of his calibre have had such a special bull slaughtered in their memory.
Lekwale oleSadera, who led the customary act, said: "A respected leader like Ntimama, who owned large herds of cattle, family and who lived an honourable life is supposed to be celebrated in a special ceremon,"
Ntimama at his Melili home in Narok county on September 1.
Sadera added that such a ceremony is only performed to community elders 70 years-old and above.
"Normally the sacred bull is picked from the family and slaughtered as an indicator that the head of the family has died," Sadera said.
"The fat to be applied on his body by his son will not be performed in this case as the former Narok North MP's burial will be a Christian affair," the elder said.
Parsakei Ngoshosh, another elder, said that the slaughtering of the special bull is mainly for the late former heritage minister's age-set.
"A cleansing ceremony for the family will be done. Any person attending the ceremony will have a piece of the meat in order to get the former minister’s blessings as well as of those elders of his age group," he added.
Meanwhile, funeral committee chairman Hassan ole Kamwaro (in charge of plans in Narok) said that all is set for the burial ceremony slated for Wednesday.
Read:
Kamwaro said that more than and goats will be slaughtered for the more than 50,000 people expected to attend the final rites.
He said the guests are expected from across the country, Tanzania, America and Europe.
"Ntimama was respected not only in Kenya but across the borders. We are expecting visitors from far and wide," said Kamwaro.
President Kenyatta, Cord leader Raila Odinga, Tanzania opposition leader Edward Lowassa are expected to attend the burial.
Read:
A requiem mass will be held at the All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi on Tuesday.
An inter-denominational prayer meeting was held at Ntimama’s home on Sunday where thousands of people among them Raila, Narok governor Samuel Tunai attended.