Lynched kin buried at cemetery after villagers block family farm

The family of Mzee David Ouma, whose two sons were lynched by a mob over robbery claims. The family's homes were razed and they are now camping at the Homa Bay police station. [Photo: James Omoro/Standard]

The two brothers who were lynched over robbery allegations have been buried at the Homa Bay Cemetery.

This was after Nyangweso villagers prevented their family from burying them at home, saying they were social outcasts.

Evance Onyango, 25, and Daniel Ojijo, 30, were buried at the State-owned grave site under tight police guard on Tuesday evening.

The two were killed near their home in Nyangweso, Rangwe constituency and their bodies burnt at the market centre last Friday.

The villagers accused them of robbery with violence and murder.

Even though the Luo tradition demands that a man be buried in his ancestral home, the family of David Ouma, father of the two, had to violate the tradition for their own safety.

Mr Ouma told journalists that he was compelled two bury them at the cemetery because his neighbours had expelled the entire family from the area.

“Villagers warned us that they don’t want to see any of my family members in that area whether dead or alive,” he said.

Exhume bodies

He said the messages had instilled a lot of fear in him and his family.

“This is a serious matter because some of them had even threatened to exhume the bodies and throw them away if the two young men were buried in the village,” he added.

Ouma and other 21 members of his family were rescued by police last Friday after his sons were lynched. The senior citizen was left homeless after the mob torched eight houses and killed eight cows and two sheep.

The family is still putting up at Homa Bay police station where they are accommodated in separate buildings.

Ouma said his more than 10 grandchildren are unable to attend school and are exposed to deadly diseases due to poor living conditions. His wife Margaret Atieno said they lost all their property in the inferno.

“My property worth Sh1 million and over Sh70,000 cash for my husband were burnt in our house. We really don’t know what to do because we were left with nothing,” Atieno said.

However, Erick Otieno, the eldest son, said he can identify his brothers’ killers if they were paraded.

“We are suffering here on false accusations. The police should speed up investigations to ensure those who killed my brothers face the full force of the law. I’m ready to help the police because I know them,” Mr Otieno added.

Homa Bay Officer Commanding Police Division Esau Ochorokodi said they were investigating the matter to ensure the family gets justice. He said they would continue accommodating them.

“The village is still hostile for them and the residents don’t want them to go back. We are also proceeding with investigations to ensure punitive measures are taken against the culprits,” Mr Ochorokodi said.

The police boss appealed to humanitarian agencies to intervene.

Villagers said the two brothers had been arrested many times and taken to court, but their family’s magical powers saved them from being sentenced.

“The two young men were real criminals who robbed many people of their property besides killing those who wanted to report them to security personnel. Villagers cannot allow the family to continue staying here because it is a disgrace,” said a resident.

The locals accused the family of being an obstacle to economic prosperity.

“It is very difficult to struggle for many years to acquire property then somebody comes and takes it within seconds. Those people should not be allowed back to this village,” said another.

Ochorokodi said they will continue accommodating the family until a safe place for their settlement is found.

“The family is undergoing difficulties, hence I am calling on well-wishers and humanitarian agencies to intervene,” said the OCPD.