Drama at burial as mourners demand 6 year old boy signs father's burial permit

A young boy, cousin to the deceased Garissa university attack victim Samwel Oyaro stays put by his coffin during funeral service before the burial on April 14,2015 at Nyanchwa village in Kisii county. Villagers said the deceased and the minor were inseparable when Oyaro was at home. (Photo:Denish Ochieng/ Standard)

Drama unfolded at a funeral ceremony in Kimbimbi village, Kirinyaga County after mourners insisted a minor signs his father’s burial permit.

The deceased was a butcher and died in a motorcycle accident on May 11.

He is said to have separated from the boy’s mother - his first wife - sometime back.

Rowdy villagers stopped his burial and ordered that the body be returned to the mortuary until his six-year-old son had been traced. They alleged there was a plot by some people to disinherit the boy.

Before the hearse headed back to the mortuary, the area chief, Immaculate Njoka, was forced to bring in armed policemen to restore order after mourners became rowdy insisting that the dead man’s sister, who had signed the burial permit, had no right to do so.

“There is no way a married woman can come and sign the burial permit while his son is alive,” shouted one angry resident.

Sold land

However, the boy was nowhere to be seen as his mother is said to have hidden him in the next village, away from his father’s burial.

The boy was finally traced at about 4.30pm, and quickly whisked to the mortuary where he put his thumb print on his father’s burial permit because he still cannot write.

“After the boy was found, he was rushed to the mortuary where the attendants demanded that the aunt who had signed the document earlier on should also be present,” said the chief yesterday.

More drama unfolded after five other women, some carrying babies on their backs, surfaced, demanding to be involved in the burial.

The area chief attributed all the drama witnessed to money the deceased had acquired after selling portions of the large family land which he had apportioned himself.

The body was finally buried after 5.30pm with armed police keeping watch. [Munene Kamau]