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Now Anyona Casket Forced Into His Home
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 18 July 2007 01:18
The house had been locked by his elder brother, Mr Stephenson Mageto, in a bid to ensure compliance with a court order blocking tomorrow's burial.
The coffin was kept outside the house in Gatuta village for an hour as elders led by former MP Abuya Abuya smashed a padlock on the kitchen door, then burst into the house to break the grill of the main door from within.
After smashing the grill open, pallbearers carried the coffin into the sitting room in keeping with Kisii traditions, where it lay for viewing.
Police watched from a distance as Mr Abuya, Mr Mageto's son Charles Mageto and Mr Anyona's son Mr Kwame Anyona supervised the break-in.
Mourners - both local and those who had travelled from Nairobi - were drenched following a heavy downpour in the afternoon.
Mr Mageto and some clan elders opposed Mr Anyona's burial before a funds dispute involving him and local women's groups is settled. As the body arrived home for burial, leaflets were circulating within the homestead demanding that the whereabouts of money raised several years ago for women's groups within the constituency be explained before the burial.
Some read: "Nyachae, Okioma and Abuya must produce Sh2.3 million belonging to women's groups in Kitutu Masaba," and others asked: "Why the hurry to bury our son by outsiders before the air is cleared?"
One of Mr Anyona's relatives, Mr Timothy Bosire, questioned the speed at which his kinsman's burial was being conducted before the dispute was resolved.
The homestead was deserted when the body arrived at 4.30 pm.
Nyamira police chief Jerry Okungu led a contingent of riot police to remove the scrap materials from the house verandah as the mourners prepared to break down the door.
Two MPs, Mr Henry Obwocha and Mr Mwancha Okioma, who had accompanied the body from Nairobi remained in their vehicles as the confusion reigned. Mr Anyona's widow Esther Mokeira and their son Kwameh also remained in their vehicles.
Mr Okioma and Mr Obwocha said they were yet to be served with the court injunction.
Attempts by Mr Abuya to trace Mr Anyona's immediate family and contractors for keys to the house were unsuccessful.
Mr Abuya accused Mr Anyona's elder brother Mr Mageto, an Electoral Commissioner, of embarrassing his dead brother by locking the house. "Where does he want the body of his brother to stay overnight?" Mr Abuya asked. He consulted with the group that escorted the body and resolved to place the casket outside the house as they looked for ways of gaining access.
Mr Anyona's remains were delayed at Wilson Airport, Nairobi, after the light aircraft in which they were to be carried to Kisii developed a mechanical problem. The plane was repaired within an hour and the coffin draped in the colours of the Kenya Social Congress party arrived at Suneka airstrip at 11.20am.
Family members said they were looking forward to giving Mr Anyona a decent burial on Sunday at Gatuta near Tombe trading centre in Nyamira district.
Principal magistrate Samuel Soita, while granting the order banning the burial, barred the burial committee headed by former MP Njeru Kathangu or the committee members from collecting the body from Lee Funeral Home until December 17 when the case will be heard.
Mr Mageto in his affidavit had stated that members of the Chabumba Women's Group had threatened to burn the late MP's remains if the burial went ahead before about Sh 1.3m raised by Mr Anyona was accounted for.
Scores streamed to Gusii stadium and later to Nyamira sports ground to pay their last respects to Mr Anyona. Police helped to keep order.
Tears had flowed freely as soon as the casket was removed from aa hearse. Mr Anyona's niece Carren Mageto, a teacher at Nyamira Primary School, broke down and was given first aid by Scouts and relatives.
Mourners demanded that Kwame should address them during brief speeches given by political leaders before the public was allowed to view the body.
