Drama as OCS is barred from exhuming body

There was drama at Isoge village, Borabu in Nyamira County Friday when police in Keroka were barred by the community from exhuming the body of a polygamous man whose burial is being contested by his first family.
The deceased Ben Nyaboki Okari’s body is said to have been buried secretly by the second wife who collected it from Hema hospital mortuary against the wish of the first wife who had placed an injunction against its collection.
Keroka OCS Fred Baru Leparleen got a rude shock when he arrived at the homestead to find the family had disappeared as the community became hostile towards him.
Though he engaged in verbal exchange with the community, Leparleen was neither able to deliver the injunction nor exhume the body as the second wife identified as Hellen Kemunto Okari was nowhere to be found.
The first wife Wilfridah Kemunto decried the secret burial and castigated her co- wife for disobeying the court injunction and burying their husband secretly.
Kemunto was present during the failed exhumation of the body through the court order by Senior Resident magistrate B.M. Kimutai on 10th May, 2018.
The first family expressed shock over the turn of events saying Gusii culture demands they be given priority to bury the husband.
The OCS said the order will be executed on Monday 14th May 2018. Efforts to reach Helen Kemunto were futile as her phone went unanswered and then off.
By Chrisphine Otieno and Jane Naitore