Kenyans Unhappy With How The Covid19 Victim Was Buried Like A Dog In Siaya

James Oyugi 59 years old and an employee of KPA Mombasa who had been suspected to have died due to Covid 19 infection was tested yesterday and confirmed to have been positive.

After talks, the MoH and County authorities decided to bury the body at his home in Ukwala in a hurried decision that would see the husband of two and father to many buried in a body bag.

The decision was made in the worries that holding the body longer would further the spread of the virus even though it was disinfected.

This goes on record as one of the most bizarre burials where the human dignity was totally stripped. A human being bundled out of the mortuary, buried in the middle of the night with no prayer no nothing just dumped like a dog.

This is something that doesn’t happen in the world leave alone in Luo.

Many people have since come out to express their displeasure on the manner of how the body was handled.

“COVID-19 has struck Siaya like meteor. Witnessed an undignified burial in the dead of night as surreal as mass graves in NY & military funeral convoys in Lombardy. We’re confronted with unprecedented challenges. Lets not forget our humanity even in the midst of tragedy.” Said Siaya Senator Orengo.

Mohammed Onyango, a Twitter user was equally unimpressed,”When the KQ pilot succumbed to COVID-19 his body was taken to Lee Funeral & a dignified send off was conducted, the newspapers were coming close to canonizing him… A KPA officer dies in Siaya & is buried in a shallow grave at dawn like a rabid dog without a coffin.”

Bel Akinyi, another vocal Twitter user stood against the decision, “If you can’t do your job well and stop the infections from getting into the country then you should at least try your best to burry people with decency. Siaya doesn’t seem to have any covid plan other than body bags ready to bury people at midnight. Rasanga en jajuok.”

“Health CS Mutahi Kagwe needs to tell us why the discrimination of burying James Oyugu of Siaya like a dog and traumatizing his family while all other Corona victims have been buried with dignity…or is it that Luos are less human????!!! OUTRAGEOUS!” Said Ruth Atieno.

Raila Odinga Junior also jumped to the conversation saying, “The poorly done Siaya grave of a suspected #covid19 victim does not only expose the entire village to the virus but also creates undeserved Stigma to family members. Do not take away the dead dignity!l.”

Ugunja MP, Opiyo Wandayi whose constituency is neighboring said, “The first Siaya COVID-19 case has left us dumbfounded. All victims deserve dignity, even in death. Moreover, among the Luo, just like in most African cultures, the dead are accorded utmost respect. The Govt must clarify the protocol for disposal of bodies in ALL COVID-19 cases.”