Ken Okoth was cremated on Saturday with his mother and lover skipping the ‘secret’ event
The late Kibra MP Ken Okoth’s lover Anne Mothoni Thumbi has threatened to go to court after Ken’s family defied court orders and excluded her from the cremation ceremony on Saturday morning.
Elkanah Mogaka, a lawyer representing Ms. Thumbi maintained that the cremation ceremony performed at Kariokor Crematorium was done in secret and violated the consent signed in court on Friday in which Ken’s family promised to include Ms Thumbi’s son Jayden Okoth in the any service, be it burial or cremation.
“I can confirm to you that Jayden was not included in the cremation ceremony and as it stands, the family is in disobedience of the court order and we will be taken action on the same on Monday,” said Mr Mogaka.
‘Secret’ cremation
Mogaka revealed that the information on the cremation was only posted on Twitter after the exercise had been completed.
Meanwhile, Rashid Omondi, a brother to the late Kibra MP could not hold back his emotions after missing out on the legislator’s final rites.
Rashid who could not hide his disappointment broke down in tears after learning that they body would not be taken to Kabondo Kasipul where he was waiting to view the body before Ken’s internment.
“I thought my brother would be brought to Got Rateng’ so that so that the people of Kabondo could see him.
“It’s very disappointing that the program changed abruptly. I have just learnt from the press that he has already been cremated,” he explained.
Orange Democratic Movement Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, who also doubles up as the family’s lawyer broke the news on Twitter, stating that the event was a private affair.
“Hon. Okoth’s remains have been cremated this morning in accordance with his wishes and in the presence of his family. May his soul Rest In Peace,” read a tweet from ODM.
Sifuna also claimed that Thumbi who is a nominated MCA opted to skip the event that was also snubbed by Ken’s mother.
“The ceremony started early in the morning in the presence of only a few people. Anne’s lawyer yesterday (Friday) said that they were not going to attend,” said Mr Sifuna.
Night drama at Lee
Drama preceded the cremation ceremony after Ken Okoth’s widow Monica Okoth went to Lee Funeral Home in the dead of the night, demanding for her husband’s body.
K24 reports that Monica arrived at the facility at around 10 PM and demanded that the body be surrendered to her.
An attendant at the facility who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed that those who accompanied Monica claimed that there were plans by a section of Kibra residents to block all roads leading to Kariokor crematorium so as to thwart all efforts to cremate the remains.
The attendant told the publication that “Monica’s team wanted Ken’s body taken that night so that they could proceed to Kariokor without the knowledge of the alleged dissatisfied constituents”.
“According to them, they wanted by the time the Kibra people were barricading routes leading to Kariokor, the process would have long been over”. He added.
Monica’s team alleged that they were privy to plans by a section of Kibra residents to forcefully take the body for burial against the wishes of the deceased who reportedly chose to the cremated upon death.
Watch the video below, courtesy of Citizen TV.
