Wetang’ula brother buried as family rules out Covid-19 as cause of death- Photos

 Anthony Waswa, the brother of Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula, is buried at their home in Mukhweya in Bungoma county. [Mumo Munuve, Standard]

There was anxiety and grief during the hurried burial of Antony Waswa, the younger brother of Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula and Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi in Mukhweya village, Kabuchai constituency, Bungoma County.

The 48-year-old Waswa was the personal assistant of Mr Wanyonyi for the past seven years. He died at the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi where he had been admitted for a week. 

Only 60 people were allowed into the compound with seats spaced at  2.5metres.

The family compound was surrounded by a contingent of police officers who ensured that anybody not in the list provided by the family got past the gate.

About 100 metres from the burial site, there were 10 medical workers all in protective gear to receive the body. One of them could be seen fumigating the entire compound.

At 11.23am, the chopper carrying the body landed. Senator Wetang’ula and MP Wanyonyi received the body and then the casket was lowered to the grave immediately. The chopper was then fumigated before taking off.

The Standard learnt that about 10 senators who were meant to attend the burial could not do so because their chopper was denied permission to take off from Wilson Airport by the Government. A cessation of movement order bars movement outside Nairobi and its metropoles in parts of Kiambu, Kajiado and Machakos.

The brief service was conducted by Fr. Christopher Wanyonyi of Christ the King Cathedral, Catholic Diocese of Bungoma. He was assisted by Fr. Protus Wosyanzu of Cheptais Parish.

Some of the dignitaries who attended the burial included Ferdinand Wanyonyi (Kwanza MP), John Waluke (MP Sirisia), Catherine Wambilianga (Bungoma Women Rep), Stanley Tarus (Trans Nzoia Deputy Governor) and Patrick Wangamati (Ex- Ford Kenya nominated MP).

Eulogising his brother, the Westlands MP said after distributing foodstuffs and providing sanitisers to vulnerable families in the constituency on May 9, the two were to meet the following day to visit more people.

“The following day (May 10) when we were about to leave to visit more families, I didn’t see him. I reached him on the phone and he told me that he was not feeling well. We agreed to meet later in the evening," said Wanyonyi.

He added: “On May 11, I talked to him in the morning and said he had been admitted at Ngara Medical Centre and when his condition worsened, I took him to Aga Khan Hospital for specialised treatment. On Friday, my sister informed me on the phone that my brother had died.”

Wanyonyi dismissed claims that his brother‘s death was related to Covid-19 saying even the family is not aware of what caused his death.

On why a postmortem had not been conducted, the MP said the family was in a hurry to bury him in line with the Government’s directive that any dead person should be buried within 48 hours.

Wetang’ula on his part said he learnt of his brother's ailment while at the burial of Tecra Karanja, the daughter of Keroche Breweries CEO Tabitha Karanja in Naivasha.

“My brother (Tim Wanyonyi) talked to me while at the burial and I told him to take him to the hospital.”

Wetang’ula said President Uhuru Kenyatta gave the family the chopper that ferried the remains of his late brother to Bungoma, adding that Raila Odinga, Musalia Mudavadi, Kalonzo Musyoka and Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka condoled with the family.

The Bungoma Senator reminded Kenyans to adhere to the government directives so as to curb the spread of Covid-19.