The family of James Oyugi Onyango who was buried unceremoniously on Sunday after he succumbed to the novel COVID-19 has filed a petition seeking to exhume his body.
Oyugi’s sister Joan Akoth Ajuang and his son Brian Thomas Oyugi are demanding that he be exhumed by the respondents and an autopsy undertaken to ascertain the cause of death.
Should it be found that he died as a result of coronavirus, the family says that he should be given a decent burial in line with World Health Organization WHO) guidelines on the safe management of a body.
Oyugi’s kin also want to be allowed to nominate a maximum of 15 people from immediate or extended family members to witness the autopsy, all of who are to wear protective gear provided for by the Ministry of Health.
The petitioners have listed Michael Owuor Osodo, chief of Simur Kondiek Location, as a first respondent, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe as the second, the Attorney General as the third and the Law Society of Kenya as an interested party.
A video surfaced on social media on Sunday showing Oyugi’s unceremonious burial at his home in Siaya.
In the video, officials in covered in white hazmat suits are seen throwing Oyugi’s body into a shallow grave moments after dragging it from behind the Pick-Up track he was ferried in.
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