KDF man disrupts mother’s funeral over wrong route

Drama unfolded at Nyamira village in Kiminini, Trans Nzoia County, when a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldier blocked a convoy ferrying the body of his mother from a local mortuary for burial in the village.

Mr Bob Omusa Onduko derailed the transportation of Ms Penina Mongina Nyandiko’s remains when he hang upside down in front of the hearse.

A witness said the KDF man jumped out of the car he was in and blocked the convoy. 

Mr Onduko demanded the convoy use a different route to access their home.

The convoy was expected to pass through Nyamira Primary School but he insisted that it should use the road near Nyamira Secondary School.

“I’m not going to allow the convoy to pass through this route. We must use the other route. I will only leave the ground when you respect my directive,” charged Onduko.

Attempts by elders to plead with Mr Onduko to free the convoy to proceed to their home hit a snag, prompting a group of men to grab and pull him away.

The KDF man based in Gilgil caused more drama when he attempted to bar people from viewing the body.

“There is no viewing of the body. I will not allow any person to come near the coffin,” shouted Mr Onduko to the surprise of the mourners.

The man directed some youth to carry the body inside the house to block mourners from viewing.

Mr Onduko’s wife also caused more drama when she demanded that her dowry be paid before her mother-in-law is laid to rest.

“The dowry has to be paid to my family before we bury my mother-in-law. I lost my parents, but I have my uncles to acknowledge the dowry payment,” argued the woman.

The turn of events prompted elders to convene an urgent meeting to discuss the issue and resolved that the only cow in the family be surrendered to the in-laws.

“We had no option but to let the woman’s family take the cow, though it was meant to be feasted on by mourners,” said an elder.

The burial committee had planned to slaughter the cow and feed mourners.

Mr Onduko’s behaviour has become the talk of the village, with some accusing him of disrespecting his mother’s funeral.

“He has humiliated us and his deceased mother,” a villager said.