Drama erupted at a funeral service at Machwele village in Bumula constituency, Bungoma, when the deceased’s family returned the body to the morgue demanding justice.
They claimed their loved one was attacked and killed in a chang’aa den.
Residents who spoke to the Star said that the deceased was attacked in a chang’aa den and beaten to death by known individuals in the village.
They said the incident happened in broad daylight and people saw what happened.
They accused Bumula DCI officers of not taking the matter into serious consideration.
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Tom Marauni, one of the deceased’s relatives, said that the family had agreed to bury the dead on Saturday but they decided to halt the service and take the body back to Bungoma County Referral Hospital mortuary until justice is served.
“We have no problem with the police but we need justice before the body of the deceased is brought back for burial. We have halted everything and mourners returned home,” he said, noting that the family will rearrange a new burial date.
Marauni said that the chang’aa den where the deceased was attacked is still operating, and demanded that the relevant authorities close it.
Rowdy locals carrying the casket stormed Bumula police station while chanting ‘Tunataka haki!’ [we want justice].
Marauni blamed the police for not visiting the alleged scene of crime to do investigations and arrest the suspects.
“We are wondering how the police officers who were assigned at Bumula police station are operating. Their work should be to ensure that the locals are at peace but instead their work is to collect bribes in chang’aa dens,” he said.
He added that if the suspects aren’t arrested the locals will stage demonstrations everyday until they are served justice.
Marauni decried increased incidents where people are killed in Bumula but no action is taken on the suspects.
Speaking at Bumula police station, Bishop Justus Kihisa of Church of God of All Nations condemned the incident, asking the DCI to take up the matter and investigate it.
“I have been following this case since it happened and sincerely speaking this family needs justice because their loved was killed by known people in the village but no one has taken an action against them," Kihisa said.
He said the matter was reported to the police station but police were still dragging their feet on the case.
“Their probe is very slow. I fully support the returning of the body to the mortuary to allow the police to do their job,” Khisa said.
But DCI officers at Bumula police station denied anyone ever appeared at the station to record a statement on the issue.
They said that they have launched investigations into the matter.
