A dramatic turn of events unfolded on Monday in Khuluchere village, Butere Sub-County, Kakamega County, when the burial of a deceased man was abruptly halted and the body returned to the morgue.
The family, led by Margaret Malika and Henry Malika, had arrived in Marama South Ward to lay their loved one to rest, only to be stopped by local authorities due to the lack of necessary land ownership documents.
The issue stemmed from the fact that the deceased, Jason Owade, did not have a valid land title for the plot where the family intended to bury him.
The family explained that they had been denied a burial permit by the office of the area chief, as the land on which the deceased had lived did not have the required documentation.
Without the land title, the family was unable to secure the necessary burial clearance.
“The family arrived to bury their loved one, but they were sent back with the body to the mortuary at Butere Private Hospital due to the lack of paperwork,” authorities stated.
Jason Owade, who had lived alone on the land following the deaths of his eight children, is survived by only one daughter, who is married and does not live on the land.
The family is now calling on government authorities to intervene and help them obtain the land title so they can finally give their loved one a proper burial.
Despite their efforts, the Assistant Chief of the area, Stephen Tooso, refused to comment on the matter, citing that he had not yet received approval from his superiors to discuss the issue.
The family is left in limbo, hoping for a resolution to the matter that will allow them to bury their relative with the dignity and respect they believe he deserves.
