UPDATE 11:09: The son and sister of James Oyugi Onyango, the Covid-19 victim who was buried in the dead of night have sued to have his body exhumed.
Joan Akoth Ajuang and Brian Thomas Oyugi want their kin accorded a decent burial.
In the lawsuit filed at the High Court in Siaya, the petitioners cited that should it be found that though the deceased died as a result of coronavirus, he should be accorded a decent burial in line with World Health Organization WHO) guidelines.
Simur Kondiek Location chief Michael Owuor has been listed as the first respondent, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe as the second and the Attorney General as the third.
Law Society of Kenya has also been listed as an interested member.
A section of Kenyans was left confused on Tuesday morning, April 14, when vocal lawyer Miguna Miguna stated that irate villagers exhumed James Oyugi Onyango's body in Siaya.
In the Facebook post, that has since garnered 897 comments and 114 shares, Miguna stated, "James Oyugi Onyango's village mates in Siaya have exhumed his body from the shallow grave where he was buried."
Kenyans.co.ke reached out to Zack Onyango, the deceased's brother and Siaya Senator James Orengo's communication officer, Victor Marende, to get an update of the case.
Both of them, however, denied that the body of the deceased had been exhumed.
"I can confirm that it is not true," Zack stated.
Marende seconded him, stating that the body would only be exhumed if the County government came to an agreement with Health CS Mutahi Kagwe.
"The body has not been exhumed. If at all it will, maybe later. If the CS and the County government say it is necessary, then it might happen but for now, I can confirm it has not," he stated.
At the same time, Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga apologised over the callous manner in which the Covid-19 victim was buried in Ugenya.
He instituted a committee led by the County’s Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Governance, Dismas Wakla to probe the incident.
He stated that the team will constitute of the County Police Commander, Francis Kooli, an Anglican Priest and a member from the family of the deceased.
The committee will be expected to give its report within seven days.
“The protocol does not even call for the burial of a victim of Covid-19 without a coffin as was the case of Onyango.
“I want to apologize to the family and all Kenyans. The incident was not intentional," Rasanga stated.
