Court stops Kibra MP Ken Okoth's cremation, burial

 

MP Ken Okoth, Nominated MCA Anne Muthoni and the baby. [Courtesy]

A High Court has stopped the interment of Kibra MP Ken Okoth scheduled for Saturday.

This is after an alleged second wife filed an application to have her son recognised before his ‘father’ was interred.

A Jubilee-nominated MCA Anne Muthoni Thumbi had this morning moved to the court to have son recognised as Ken Okoth’s biological child.

“The mother and the wife (of the deceased) have deliberately and unfortunately opted to exclude me from the funeral and burial arrangements,” Muthoni said in her application.

She added that she only learnt of the interment plans in the media and accused the family of settling for a cremation to destroy the evidence of her son’s link to Okoth.

Senior Principal Magistrate Grace Mmasi issued the injunction pending the hearing and determination of the application.

“It is hereby ordered that in the interim a temporary injunction be and is hereby issued restraining the 1^st (Angelina Okoth) and 2^nd (Monica Okoth) defendants, either by themselves, their servants or agents, from conducting the burial, interment, cremation and or in any matter whatsoever dispose of the body…” the order seen by Standard Digital read in part.

On Tuesday, Okoth’s mother Angelina told a TV interview that her son did not father a child out of marriage with Monica.

“Ken did not sire any child. I know many women will come to claim they have a least a child with Ken,” she said.

Muthoni and Okoth have been photographed with the child, with sources close to them saying the legislator had been paying his school fees.

In another picture that has been shared widely on social media, Okoth’s mother Angelina is seen showing the now five-year-old boy a newspaper.

According to a local daily, the two met in 2011 when Muthoni was working as a nurse at the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi. It reported that they have at one point lived together.  

The court development happened as family and friends held Okoth’s funeral service at Moi Girls High School.

While many eulogised him as a phenomenal leader, the mention of the son did not escape the tributes.

In an animated speech, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko said he was aware of Okoth and Muthoni’s relationship and son.

“The two love birds did not hide the fact that they shared a son. Unfortunately, today, Anita was stopped at the Lee Funeral Home as she took their son to pay last respect to his father. Who does that?” he posed.

Speaking at memorial service for the MP, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoki criticised the rushing to court before giving arbitration a chance.

He said paternity issues caused a lot of confusion, and understandably so,  but ODM leader Raila Odinga had already started the process.

Barring the reaching of an understanding between the MCA  and the late MP's family, the Saturday memorial at Homa Bay seems unlikely.

The case will be heard on August 9.