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- The burial of 12-year-old Kennedy Onyango shot dead during anti-government protests, faced significant controversy and disruption.
- Police intercepted the funeral procession in Rusinga, prompting public outcry and appeals for the grieving mother to mourn in peace.
- The National Police Service released a statement denying stopping the burial and detailed the circumstances leading to the interception.
The burial of 12-year-old Kennedy Onyango, who was shot dead during the anti-government protests in Ongata Rongai, faced significant controversy and disruption.
As the body was being transported to its final resting place in Homa Bay County on July 6, police officers intercepted the funeral procession in Rusinga.
Interception of the funeral procession
Comedian Eric Omondi, who had been actively involved in organizing the burial, shared updates on his social media accounts.
READ: Police intercept funeral procession & seize body of 12-year-old boy killed during demos
He reported that police had set up a roadblock just before the procession reached the homestead.
According to Omondi, the police seized the body of the deceased, prompting him to appeal to authorities to allow Kennedy’s grieving mother to mourn in peace.
Police explain why they took the body of Kennedy Onyango
In response to the public outcry and Omondi's plea, the National Police Service, through the Inspector General, released an official statement clarifying the situation.
The police denied stopping the burial and explained the circumstances that led to the interception.
"Contrary to the misleading reports circulating on social media that the National Police Service has stopped the burial of the late Kennedy Onyango in Mbita Constituency, we wish to clarify to the public that the body was released to the mother, Josinter Anyango Ochieng, for burial on July 4, 2024," the statement read.
READ: Autopsy reveals Rongai boy's cause of death after being shot 8 times
The police detailed that after a post-mortem conducted by Pathologist Dr Ndegwa, it was determined that Kennedy had died from a single gunshot wound fired from a long range. The body was then moved to Mbita for burial.
Court order halts burial of Kenndey Onyango
However, upon arrival on July 5, 2024, a man named Denish Okinyi Abaga, claiming to be Kennedy’s biological father, presented a court order stopping the burial. Abaga demanded the right to bury his son, leading to further complications.
The court order, issued in Civil Suit No. 0028 of 2024 at Mbita Law Courts, mandated the police to transfer the body to Suba Sub-County Hospital Funeral Home for preservation.
"The body was moved to Mbita for burial but upon arrival on July 5, 2024, one Denish Okinyi Abaga claiming to be the biological father of the boy appeared with a court order stopping the burial after he demanded to bury the boy. Apparently, the Civil Suit No. 0028 of 2024 filed at Mbita Law Courts ordered the police to move the body to Suba Sub-County Hospital Funeral Home for preservation, and the OCS Mbita Police Station complied with the order," the statement continues.
READ: List of Kenyans who lost their lives in the Finance Bill protests
The Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Mbita Police Station complied with this order, leading to the police action that had caused the public uproar.
The National Police Service called for calm and patience from the public as the family dispute over Kennedy’s burial was resolved in court.
"We appeal to members of the public to remain calm as this matter regarding the family burial dispute is resolved before a competent Court of Law," the statement continued.
The police assured the public of their commitment to serving and protecting all citizens, as enshrined in the Constitution. They stressed their intention to act in the best interests of all parties involved.