Sad tale of a covid-19 victim buried without a coffin

James Onyango was buried at night under the watchful eyes of police and public health officers.

A suspected Covid-19 victim who died in Siaya was hurriedly buried at night in a bizarre ceremony that left villagers in shock.

Family members said yesterday that James Onyango's body was wrapped in a body bag and buried at his home in Kamalungi village at 2am under the watchful eyes of police and public health officers.

He becomes the first Covid-19 victim in Kenya to be buried in such a manner. Others have either been cremated or buried in coffins.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the government has ordered that dead people be buried within 48 hours. A maximum of 15 mourners only are allowed to attend the burial.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Saturday confirmed Onyango's death during his daily press updates.

Mr Kagwe said Onyango's demise has now brought the total number of corona related deaths in the country to eight. He said the number of confirmed cases in Kenya stands at 197.

Yesterday, the sleepy Kamalungi village in Simur, North Ugenya, was in a virtual lockdown as police and health officials hunted for those who may have braved the morning chill to attend the burial.

Also being hunted were several people suspected to have come into contact with the deceased.

Onyango contracted the virus in Mombasa where he reportedly worked with the Kenya Ports Authority.

By yesterday afternoon, several people, including close relatives and employees of Matibabu Medical Centre where he died, had been rounded up and taken into quarantine at the Kenya Medical Training College in Siaya town.

One person suspected to have come into close contact with Onyango, 59, was traced to Corner Legio in Kisumu and immediately taken into quarantine.

A senior county health official who sought anonymity said the hurried burial was necessary to minimise multiple infections.

"We were saving those remaining in the family and village," he said.

A brother to the deceased, Zack Onyango, confirmed his brother was buried shortly after 2am.

He said the family had already bought a coffin in preparation for the burial but police and health authorities decided to hasten the burial.

Started coughing

He said his brother was admitted at the Matibabu Medical Centre in Ukwala on April 10 after he started coughing.

According to a police status report seen by The Standard, Onyango was admitted at 10am and died at 7pm the same day. Specimen taken from his body was then rushed to Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) in Kisumu.

"The hospital was waiting for the results from Kemri before releasing the body. Whether he died of Covid-19 or not, he deserved a decent burial. We even asked police and health officials to allow us bury him yesterday during the day, but they refused," said Zack.

Reached for comment, Siaya County Commissioner Michael ole Tialal referred this writer to Mr Kagwe, saying he was the only one authorised to comment on Covid-19 matters.

"You are advised to rely on the CS for the confirmation of this matter," Mr Tialal said.

Yesterday, police and health officials could neither confirm nor deny claims that three of Onyango's relatives escaped from authorities as they were being led to a quarantine centre.

According to the police, Onyango's death report was received on April 11. The report says Onyango left Mombasa on April 5 with his wife and two daughters.

"On April 5, they slept in Nairobi and on April 6, he was involved in a minor accident at Awasi market and later spent the night in Kisumu," a police report said.