New revelations have emerged on how the military exhumed Mzee Jomo Kenyatta's body and accorded him care and honour after his death.
Lt-Gen Daniel Opande, the staff officer responsible for ceremonial duties at the Army headquarters after Jomo's tenure released an autobiography titled In Pursuit of Peace in Africa which reveals untold before secrets around Kenyatta's burial.
Jomo Kenyatta's body was exhumed by the military at one point, three months after his burial and took it to City Mortuary to have it professionally cared for. They then returned it to the Parliament grounds.
"I was called by the Army Commander, the late General Jackson Mulinge, and asked to “heighten security around the mausoleum and to be ready to arrange for a military ambulance to take the casket containing the body of Mzee to the City Mortuary," Opande wrote in his autobiography.
“I could detect the sombre urgency in his voice as he stressed that the whole operation had to be completed by the following evening. I assured him that I understood his instructions and would comply," Opande, the decorated soldier, stated while revealing that there was some sense of urgency in Gen Mulinge’s call.
Opande further divulges that Jomo's physician, Dr. Eric Mwangola, who was also the Director of Medical Services led the exhumation exercise. Dr. Mwangola and Dr Njoroge Mungai — Kenyatta’s first cousin — were the two medics that Jomo trusted most.
However, Opande was not convinced by Mulinge's call as it was not clear on why the first president's body was being exhumed. Shortly after Gen Mulinge hung up, Opande stated that he received another call from Dr Mwangola who asked to meet him.
Mwangola met with Opande at the mausoleum on a Sunday, alongside Major Henry Kamiti, who was then the officer commanding the company that was guarding Jomo's body.
"We entered the mausoleum and with the help of a handful of soldiers set out to take out the casket. It was quite heavy and tricky to remove but we managed to bring it out successfully. It was immediately transferred to the waiting military ambulance for the journey to the City Mortuary.
Opande further recalled that upon arriving at the mortuary, they transferred the casket inside where the pathologist, a Dr Rao, and his assistants carefully removed the body and placed it on a large table draped with a clean white sheet.
"I watched carefully as they cleaned the remains that appeared very well-preserved. Within an hour, the body was placed back into the casket for transportation back to the mausoleum. Later that night, my task accomplished, I called Gen Mulinge and informed him of the success of our mission," he narrates.
According to Nation, a source in the Kenyatta family confirmed that the family members knew about the exercise — and that it has happened “twice or thrice” ever since, for “cleaning up”.
The first President died on August 22, 1978, and the anniversary of his death was marked publicly ever since.
President Uhuru Kenyatta during the 41st memorial service of his late father on Thursday, August 22, declared that it would be the last time that they'd honour the founding father in a public event.
