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Rodents invade Anyona's house as war on burial date continues

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Published on Saturday, 02 June 2007 08:09

Rodents and birds now inhabit the house built for former MP George Anyona, even as his burial date remains unknown. The house was built by well-wishers soon after his death on November 4 last year, but the burial was blocked following a case filed by his elder brother.

Mr Sospeter Mageto went to court to seek clearance of his brother's name over the withdrawal of over Sh2.3 million raised for Chabumba Women's Group. The court has already cleared Mr Anyona after the National Bank gave evidence showing that he never withdrew any money from the women's account. It is now two months since the court made the ruling and the matter was closed.

Since then, Mr Mageto has been silent. He has refused to meet either the women's group or officials of Anyona's party – the Kenya Social Congress – to decide on the burial date. Meanwhile, the body remains at Nyangina Private Hospital mortuary and it is expected that Mr Mageto would foot the bills.

Mr Mageto often visits the mortuary alone in the company of his driver to view the body and then disappears, refusing to meet anybody to discuss burial arrangements. He also avoids the media whenever approached to say when his brother will be buried. Mr Anyona's widow, Mrs Esther Mokeira Anyona, and her son Kwame, often break down whenever they are asked to comment on burial arrangements. Mrs Anyona's stand has been that her husband should be buried first, and anything pending be sorted out later.

A visit to the home by the Nation yesterday established that the empty three-roomed house has been dilapidated in a matter of months. The footpath leading to the house is currently bushy with the entire compound looking like a mini-forest, since no one has been there to maintain it. Mr Mageto put up the abandoned house with support from other Kisii leaders. Storm water has swept soil and other waste materials including tree branches litre the entire skirting of the house and the compound which measures about 100 by 100 feet.

About 10 metres from the house is a maize plantation which it is said Mr mageto planted soon after he blocked the burial. The road which was upgraded in readiness for the burial last December is now impassable. Given the sloppy land terrain, storm water has already dug gullies on it. Two months ago, while addressing a press conference in Nyamira, Mr Mageto claimed that the house had cost him Sh2.5 million.