The man behind Jaramogi family graves

SIAYA COUNTY: Julius Ochieng is quite familiar with the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga family graveyard situated at Kang'o Ka-Jaramogi home in Nyamira, Siaya County.

On Thursday he led five of his colleagues in digging the third grave in the yard, the grave where CORD leader Raila Odinga's son, Fidel Castro, will be laid to rest Saturday.

In 1996, he was the team leader of the men who dug the grave of Raila's sister Margaret Akinyi; at the same point. Three years later, he led the same team to dig the grave of Shadrack Osewe Oginga, Jaramogi's last-born son.

However, 20 years into the business of digging graves, Mr Ochieng considers Fidel's the most tricky and touchy grave he has ever handled in his life.

He says Fidel, being a prominent member of the society, the work requires perfection as most eyes are focused on all the burial preparations. This calls for him and his group to be extra careful so as to avoid embarrassing not only the family but also friends and the entire nation.

"This is a serious funeral and we want to do a perfect job, which shows respect for the fallen young hero," he said.

At the time of his demise, Fidel was not only Ochieng's age mate but also a close relative and a friend who never visited the Bondo home without leaving him with a few coins as appreciation of their closeness.

Digging graves is not an easy task and cannot be accepted by many people. Ochieng has, however, taken the task as his source of income and has no plans to quit.

The father of three who is also a distant relative of the Jaramogi family was recruited into the business in the 1990s by a friend.

Having dropped out of school at Form Three, he ventured into casual jobs, which included digging trenches, sewer and underground water lines as well as farming.

"A friend once invited me to accompany him in digging a grave at the neighbourhood and I found it well paying," said Ochieng.

After several contracts, he became an expert and could be called in to take such jobs in the village.