Widow opposes order to exhume man's body

Public Health officers exhuming the remains of Paul Kipchabas at Koroto Primary School. [Yvonne Chepkwony, Standard]

A widow has appealed against a court decision allowing exhumation of her husband's body.

Veronicah Mengich and her son Kimator Ruto have lodged an appeal at the Environment and Lands Court in Eldoret following a decision by a Kabarnet court allowing Koroto Primary School management to exhume the body of Paul Kipchambas. 

Paul Kipchabas' kin at his graveside in Koroto Primary School, Baringo. [Yvonne Chepkwony, Standard]

The orders were issued following a suit filed by the school's headteacher Zachariah Kipkebut against the family of the deceased.

Paul Kipchabas' grave. [Yvonne Chepkwony, Standard]

The widow and her son are said to have conducted a burial on the night of March 25, claiming that they were following their clan’s culture of burying the dead at night.

Paul Kipchabas' grave within the school compound. [Yvonne Chepkwony, Standard]

But the court termed the presence of the grave within the school compound a nuisance.

Public Health officers exhuming the remains of Paul Kipchabas. [Yvonne Chepkwony, Standard]

“It is clear the parcel of land was reserved for Koroto Primary School, while parcel number eight was reserved to Koroto Secondary School," the court ruled.