A 97-year-old man was buried Friday, amid uproar over the detention of his wife at Bungoma County Referral Hospital mortuary for 13 years due to a land dispute.
Angry leaders who spoke during the burial of Mzee Clement Nyongesa Sirari, 97, at Kakapel village, Angurai Division, Teso North Sub County, led by Imare Clan Chairman Reuben Osiru, a KNUT official Gerald Ekisa and Nominated member of the Busia County Assembly Rose Amoit expressed concern over the detention of the remains of the late Jesca Ateng’e at the Bungoma Level 5 hospital morgue since 2012 over mortuary charges that have since accumulated to approximately Kshs 3 million due to the protracted court case which the family eventually won.
Angurai North Member of the County Assembly aspirant, Gerald Ekisa appealed to the government to intervene and write off the bill saying the family has already suffered enough for the 13 years the deceased has been in the morgue.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Nominated Member of the County Assembly Rose Amoit who called for justice to the family and expedite the burial of Jesca next to her husband’s grave.
Imare clan chairman Mzee Reuben Osiru Osiya said, detaining the body of their daughter for 13 years in a mortuary is demeaning to the clan and needs urgent intervention.
Mzee Osiya claimed that the body is still sealed in a polythene paper bag at the Bungoma Hospital mortuary and urged Chief Justice Martha Koome to intervene in order to ensure that justice is dispensed within the shortest time possible for the family to bury their kin with dignity.
The Clan leaders issued a two month ultimatum to have the deceased’s remains released to the family for the burial or risk u disclosed consequences.
