By Andrew Irumba
Kenya: There was drama in Godmiaha village, Rachuonyo East, in Homa Bay County, Kenya on Saturday after a 38-year-old man believed to have died showed up at his funeral.
The man Kennedy Olwa is said to have vanished from his home 20 years ago and was presumed dead one month ago.
Olwa relocated to Mbita Town and ventured into fishing. He later moved to Lake Victoria’s Alum beach in Rachuonyo North Sub-County.
Ramba Location Chief Joseph Ndege said that the man’s family received news that he had died after a short illness. They were directed to Homa Bay County Referral Hospital mortuary where the police had allegedly taken Olwa’s body.
“The family did not waste time; they immediately started making burial arrangement. Another team was sent to the mortuary and confirmed that the man who was brought by police was their kin,” Ndege said.
Coincidentally, Mr Olwa was listening to radio while fishing at Alum beach when he heard the announcement that he had died from an unknown illness.
“He called some of his relatives back at home to stop any plans of burying a body. Some relatives were sent to where he was to verify the truth,” the chief said.
Meanwhile, burial plans went on back at home in Godmiaha village as some relatives did not believe the caller’s message. This was because the man left home some 20 years ago and had not been heard from since then.
The other relatives visited him on Saturday morning as the funeral ceremony started back at home.
When they arrived with him, they found speeches going on.
The body had been taken from the mortuary on Friday for burial on Saturday afternoon.
Mr Ndege said the relatives who had gone to Alum beach where Mr Olwa works returned with him as “his body” was about to be buried.
Mr Olwa assured his relatives who had gathered for the funeral that he was still alive and they should not be worried.
The family had to take the body they were about to bury back to the mortuary since nobody claimed it.
