Tension gripped Musutsu village, Lumakanda location in Lugari Sub County as mourners were taken by surprise after police officers stormed a burial ceremony for one of the residents, served a court order stopping the burial and forcefully took the body to mortuary.
Hundreds of mourners from various corners of the country had gathered at the home of Alfred Kehodo to inter remains of his wife Diana Afandi when dozens of heavily armed police officers from Lumakanda and Turbo police stations arrived and served the court order.
The move caused tension with some family members opposing decision to cancel the burial and threatened to go ahead with burial even without the mass.
However, police officers warned to take action against anybody who would disobey the order and move on with the burial.
According to a police source, the case was filed by the Shihachi family who claim the ownership of the piece of land where the late Afandi was expected to be buried.
“The order is stopping the burial from taking place on this piece of land, we cannot allow
it to go on until the case is heard and concluded,” said an officer on condition of anonymity.
Family members led by Rev. Ken Kimiywe expressed their disappointment after police refused to listen to their plea to allow them continue with the burial.
The family alleged that the land in contention legally belonged to the Kehodo who bought it over 15 years ago hoping for justice to be done and be allowed to proceed with the burial.
The body was taken to Webuye mortuary in the neighboring Bungoma County pending the court ruling as the grave was left wide open.
