Shock as body exhumed again!

Kericho, Kenya: Shock and disbelief engulfed Chesanga village at Belgut constituency in Kericho County after the body of a 33-year-old woman was exhumed for the second time.

A protracted legal battle over dowry between the deceased’s family in Kericho and another in Embu County led to the exhumation of the body after her first burial at Gachaviri village, in Embu in February.

Lilian Chepkorir Tonui, a former high school teacher, allegedly succumbed to ovarian tumour.

Heavy police presence under the command of Kericho deputy Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Daniel Ochien’g supervised the exhumation.

The police were executing a court order issued by Kericho resident judge Hedwig Ong’udi on May 28 and obtained by Elias Mwangagi Njogu against the deceased’s mother Leah Tonui.

“The body of the deceased which was removed from the mortuary and buried by the plaintiff without leave of court should be exhumed and preserved pending determination of the suit,” the judge ordered adding that the suit be transferred to Embu law court for hearing.

“According to us, the man (Njogu) purporting to be my sister’s husband was never married to her since he had not paid dowry. The worst thing is that he abandoned her for another woman,” said Chepkorir’s sister.

Chesanga village elder Samson Ngetich faulted the feuding families for failing to amicably settle the dowry saga.