Court order to blame for delayed burial of Rongai boy killed during protests, IG says
Koome said the boy's burial failed to proceed as scheduled on Saturday due to a family issue.
The National Police Service has denied claims that it was responsible for the delayed burial of the late Kennedy Onyango.
In a statement, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome said the boy's burial failed to proceed as scheduled on Saturday due to a family issue.
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"Contrary to the misleading reports circulating on social media that the National Police Service has stopped the burial of the late Kennedy Onyango in Mbita constituency, we wish to clarify to the public that the body was released to the mother, Josinta Onyango Achieng for burial on July 4," the IG said.
He explained the body was released after a post-mortem exercise was performed on the body, "with the outcome indicating that the boy died due to a single gunshot wound at a long range."
FOLLOW-UP BRIEF ON FATAL SHOOTING OF THE LATE KENNEDY ONYANGO DURING PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS IN ONGATA RONGAI pic.twitter.com/NtoNLMrzKK
— National Police Service-Kenya (@NPSOfficial_KE) July 6, 2024
According to Koome, the body was moved to Mbita for burial, but upon arrival on July 5, one Denish Okinyi Abaga armed with a court order and claiming to be the biological father of the child stopped the burial and demanded to bury the boy.
"Apparently, the civil suit No 0028 of 2024 filed at Mbita law courts ordered the police to move the body to Suba Sub-County Hospital funeral for preservation, and the OCS Mbita police station complied with the order," the IG said.
"We appeal to members of the public to remain calm as this matter regarding family burial dispute is resolved before a competent court of law," he added.
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